WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Oh, how the teen mind works. A true marvel of ingenuity, enigmatic intentions, and complete and utter chaos when something upsets the ever so delicate “balance” of daily life–ie: school, sleeping, mischief, and any other ideas swimming around within the adolescent brain. Likewise, it becomes a matter of truly serious extent when the blissful weekend morning being experienced by TJ (Lior Wolff) is unceremoniously interrupted by a desperate call from friend Andrew (Jeremy Keys). Discovering he’s left behind an, apparently, intensely missed possession at his mother’s workplace, TJ gets goaded into joining the mission to head there and retrieve said item.
Continuing to display an inordinate amount of caution for simply attempting to obtain a basic necessity, the two arrive at Andrew’s mother’s elementary school via methods usually reserved for a certain Tom Cruise-based film franchise. Still filled with hesitations, TJ goes along, and after a truly insane amount of hem-hawing to just get into the school, a new wrinkle emerges via running into Caroline (Hannah Vickery) from school, working weekend cleaning duties as part of her parent’s company. As the two continue their journey to locate Andrew’s property, it becomes evident TJ’s interest in Caroline is more than casual, and Andrew makes a choice to capitalize on his friend’s moment of transparency.
But, what is the potential cost in a day and age when words and messages have ways of getting out into a highly digital world, where a harmful “private” joke can become exposed at the push of a button?
Next, my Mind:
Heralding from Philadelphia, PA, writer/director Luke d. Nowell’s 8+ minute short film ode to the overt craziness that can occur in our modern, overly connected society actually carries a more straight forward and relevant message than one might initially see. Thanks to a very smartly executed use of emojis, motion graphics, and conventional film techniques/effects, the addressing of the ramifications faced via circumstances, both human and digital, and their interference with the sanctity of friendship is delivered quite effectively, while also utilizing off-the-wall humor and basic teenaged reactions, demeanors, and speech to further emphasize exactly how the characters involved are enforcing their “logic”, albeit in very differing ways. In short, it’s teens being teens.
Wolff’s TJ and Keys’ Andrew are most certainly entertaining to watch interact with each other, as they are a study of complete contrasts through their clean delivery in these roles. Keys’ Andrew is the happy-go-lucky, cocky but confident type whose strong personality and somewhat aloof and mildly goofy conduct engages the viewer wonderfully. Then there’s Wolff’s TJ, the more mild-mannered, by-the-book, people-pleasing one of the pair, whose hesitancy to even assist Andrew in his task indicates his overall penchant for not being someone in trouble much, or at all. Then, seeing their very divergent attitudes when it comes to assessment of Caroline also showcases the character’s varying views on people and life position as well.
Add to this mix Vickery’s undeniably fresh and cute, yet keenly intelligent and aware Caroline, whose brief interaction with the two boys actually says more than the words spoken. Projecting a trusting innocence tempered by experience and wariness of others, Vickery’s performance only becomes that much more impactful when the shoe drops in the film’s finale. A fun cameo scene with Trey Carlson and Keys’ character adds another moment of levity. The “F”-bomb, despite its commonality in real life, is a sticking point for this reviewer in films, so watchers beware of its use here in concentrated doses.
Overall, “Sweet Caroline” is a smoothly shot, well acted, funny, and strangely unapologetic view of today’s contemporary teens, the attitudes that can exist within them, the dangers of a social media-ized lifestyle, and the realization that, again, nothing put “out there” can be taken for granted as to where its final destination might just end up being.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
