JIM Reviews film "HUMPDAY" – Is Bro-mance WORTH the possible problems?! =

“HUMPDAY” – Is Bro-mance WORTH the possible problems?! =

Rating: 8 of 10 stars (based on an advance screening of a film scheduled to open around 7-24-09 in Chicago & certain other areas).

This won the Special Jury drama prize at Sundance. Back from Mexico, bearded Andrew (JOSHUA LEONARD) suddenly decides to make a 2 AM surprise visit to his former college buddy Ben (MARK DUPLASS) who’s now married to ANNA (ALYCIA DELMORE). After they let him crash at their Seattle-area home, Andrew later chances to meet Monica (played by Director LYNN SHELTON) & invites Ben to her home for a party there with a bunch of her sexually-“creative” hippyish friends. Partly not wanting to appear “stuffy”, Ben stays, gets drunk & comes up with an idea for an entry in the “HUMPDAY” video Festival— joining with Andrew in a PORNO ‘art’ project about unexpected sexual activity involving them. Ben is less than candid in the way he later talks to his wife about his idea, & the film details what HAPPENS between them all.

During a post-screening Q&A, Lynn explained how the 3 leads were able to act so exceptionally ‘NATURAL’ in their often-funny conversations & actions: after being given her ‘parameters’, they were told to CREATE most of their own dialog on their own! And, the very end was totally UN-scripted in any way, making for an amazing & very WELL-done dramedy.