#140RVW
Make sure you have a pint or two with this one. I didn’t, & I think I missed part of the spirit of the thing. Funny, honest & true to life.
What’s more:
Drinking Buddies features Kate (Olivia Wilde) and Luke (Jake Johnson), work friends who seem perfect for each other. They are both in relationships, with Chris (Ron Livingston) and Jill (Anna Kendrick), respectively, and when the two couples take a weekend trip together it tests the boundaries of friendship and their relationships.
The movie is entirely improvisational, aside from the general plot as set out by writer/director/editor Joe Swanberg. I didn’t know that before watching the movie, but knowing that now it explains a lot. The movie is only 90 minutes but it feels a hell of a lot longer than that, and I think the improv pace is probably a large part of that. The freedom and challenges offered by improvisational acting is fascinating – for actors. For the rest of us watching, “don’t bore us, get to the chorus”.
The best byproduct of the improv acting is that many of these scenes are the most natural, realistic depictions of human interaction I’ve seen in a while. This is how people talk, flirt, argue, chitchat. It’s really a breath of fresh air. Mostly. The worst offshoot, of course, is that it meanders a little bit. Like life, you say? Yes, certainly. But that’s why we have editors. Life needs a little help.
But the overarching feeling you walk away with is pleasure. It’s really a very good movie. I found myself very engaged in the characters and story. Partly because I wanted to be sampling that sweet craft beer with them, but mostly because I actively wanted to see Kate & Luke get together. I really was enthusiastically hoping that they’d make it work. Guess I’m more of a romantic than I thought…
Poster:
Trailer:
Bechdel Test:
Pass
The Representation Test Score: B (7 pts)
(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)
| Main Cast | Olivia Wilde Kate, Jake Johnson Luke, Anna Kendrick Jill, Ron Livingston Chris |
| Rating | R |
| Release Date | Fri 01 Nov 2013 UTC |
| Director | Joe Swanberg |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
| Plot | Luke and Kate are coworkers at a brewery who spend their nights drinking and flirting heavily. One weekend away together with their significant others proves who really belongs together and who doesn’t. |
| Poster |  |
| Runtime | 90 |
| Tagline | A comedy about knowing when to say when. |
| Writers | Joe Swanberg (written by) |
| Year | 2013 |