Weekenders

Weekenders exceeded my expectations when seeing it in theaters! It checks boxes of artful cinematography, engaging pace and writing, and strong acting/chemistry - but overall it's refreshing in how it's more than the sum of its parts.

Is it a light-hearted movie? In many ways, yes - and it's certainly accessible and approachable - but the dynamics between the characters have a lingering effect I generally do not experience in this genre. I enjoyed getting to know each of the four central characters' personalities (and distinct humor!) as the weekend unfolded. Each actor filled in their character effortlessly. Harper's character builds to reveal a sense of complexity that will probably stick with you; Edwards' performance shows remarkable elegance gesturing to Harper's rich inner world while coordinating vulnerability opposite different characters.

I found myself not only wondering how the characters' lives and relationships might continue past the credits, but had several moments I wish I could have been part of the conversations on-screen. Kudos to the writers for a script that translated so naturally, and for sharing a story that is thought provoking yet never overstated as such. I think what I enjoyed most about Weekenders is that in just over an hour, it served as a reminder of what's memorable about connections - whether positive or negative, romantic or platonic, familiar or novel, and the in-betweens or uncertainties of it all. There's a whole lot of relatable humanity captured in this enjoyable film that provoked me to think about the art of knowing and wanting people in your life - I certainly recommend it!

I understand the poor ratings, it's not a great movie, but I think the script was alright and the two leading actors made the most out of it. Not exactly the best acting from the support cast, but you can tell Harper and James are sorta good together.

It's not that long a movie and there's about twenty minutes when four of them are together that kinda made me wanna stop watching 'cause everything felt off but I wanted to see whether Harper and James work out.

The beginning and the end is watchable, the middle part much less convincing for me, which unfortunately is a huge chunk of the movie. Really felt like an amateur movie. Like drama students just graduated school and want to show they could make something on their own.

IN A NUTSHELL: Emmy Award-winner Erik Bloomquist is the writer, director, and star of this rom-com. Twenty-somethings will think this movie is full of cool people they'd want to hang out with. It made me, however, grateful that I'm not single anymore. The story features four singles who end up sharing an Airbnb house due to a scheduling mix-up. They bring baggage, both real and emotional, as well as look at what kind of real connections they value. Have you ever felt an instant connection with someone? Me too. You feel that in this movie.

This film is not to be confused with the 2019 movie THE WEEKENDERS or Weekender.

THINGS I LIKED: The small cast includes Peyton Michelle Edwards, Erik Bloomquist, Ehad Berisha, Maggie McMeans, Rudd Anderson, and Jeffrey Fryer. I don't think I had ever seen any of them in anything before. The characters play an interesting game called, "Paranoia" that really does get everyone paranoid. Airbnb gets a big shout-out in the movie. I used to be a "SuperHost" when I rented out one of our houses. It's a great company that allows people to earn extra income, as well as find inexpensive accommodations when a hotel won't work. Watching the characters interact with one another is a study in body language. The banter and dialogue seemed very real. You feel the pain of what it's like to be with the wrong person. I like the sweet relationship Harper has with her dad.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: Lots of awkward conversations and moments. Things I hate: one-night stands and players... The two girls kind of look alike. It would have been easier to distinguish between them if one of them had different-colored hair. I know, that's super picky...

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Some profanity and crude language Lots of alcohol Kids will be bored Talk of sex and then you see 2 unmarried couples go at it

THEMES: Love, romance, true love Connection Honesty

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Just a cute love story set in times we live in. Predictable but some twists that keep you interested. No gratuitous sex and just a little profanity. Definitely PG-13.

This one is easy to surmise within the first 15 minutes. And, guess what, you'll be correct.

Blake is too spooky for the mood of this story. His character seems too impulsive and volatile and dangerous to mix with the other easy going characters.

Outside of that the story ended just as I expected when it started.