Tramps

Danny (Callum Turner) gets a call from jail. His brother Darren wants him to deliver a suitcase but he won't reveal its content. He's paired up with driver Ellie (Grace Van Patten). She's also a tramp struggling through life. The exchange goes wrong and they have to go track down the suitcase.

It would be nice to know what the exact caper is supposed to be. That would make Danny's bumbling more compelling and funny. It could have been an energetic start but it would require more work from this indie. It takes awhile to get going and the two leads to have some fun dialogue. They are perfectly charming in the indie way. Callum has a good bumbling energy and Grace has a cool beauty about her. The dialogue has some funny moments but it needs more sharpening. The movie is infused with good New York energy. It's a meandering crime caper low budget indie and a functional rom-com. The more compelling relationship is actually between the two brothers.

It's a simple movie that covers a short time span.

Grace Van Patten is the reason to watch.

Beautiful, petty-larcenous losers find love on the run. Grace Van Patten as Ellie percolates the atmosphere with her effortless cool (she's cooler than a mint julep) and superb acting. She's a natural thriller that reveals a new layer with every frame she's in. I'm reminded of a young Shailene Woodley, only far prettier and more graceful. Callum Turner provides a perfect foil for Grace/Ellie as Danny. An awkward, stumblebum of sorts, who orbits Ellie, fully enthralled by her, as he should be. Despite their obvious differences, the two do share a strangely sublime chemistry on the screen together. It's always good to see the average dude get the hot chick. Their misadventures are fun to follow. There is even a Casablanca-esque moment (I won't say too much as to not spoil it) that would make old Bogie's heart skip. A progressive romcom that isn't afraid to laugh at itself. The negatives...the dialogue is under-imagined at times and only the two lead characters are memorable.

Clocking in at 82 mins, this all too familiar story of boy meets girl (or the other way around) and ensuing attraction works on account of its two leads and the the crisp unfolding of those 82 mins. The editing and pacing, which leaves little to be desired, is tight. The film plot is believable and not contrived. The humour is subtle and works in that regard. In short it's hard to find faults with this tight American rom-com from 2016.

Tramps is a fantastic film. I watched this on a whim knowing virtually nothing about it and from the opening scene it was apparent this was going to be a great watch.

This is basically a modern romance story. Set in New York two young people are brought together under rather unconventional circumstances, seemingly cut from a completely different cloth and find themselves embarking on an adventure to rectify a mistake and hopefully make a little cash.

Danny, played by Callum Turner, is a "good kid" with aspirations of becoming a chef who ends up having to run an errand for his apparently inept older brother. This leads to an encounter with Ellie, played by Grace Van Patten, a street wise girl who is worldly beyond her years and as such is a tad jaded, a quality that seems to mystify Danny who's sincerity and sweet nature catches Ellie off guard at first.

What ensues is simply one of the most charming films I've seen in years. The dialogue and acting are superb. Each of the films leads deliver the excellently crafted script so naturally that it feels entirely believable.

The ending could easily have run into hackneyed territory but cleverly avoids it. In summary, this is a terrific film and everyone involved did an outstanding job.