Landline

A school of thought says that monogamy is enhanced by infidelity, a counter-intuitive theory that writer/director Gillian Robespierre and writer Elisabeth Holm appear to support in their engaging comedy, Landline. The family of two girls, Dana (Jenny Slate) and Ali (Abby Quinn), Mom (Edie Falco) and Dad (John Turturro) are in constant dysfunctional mode with two major infidelities and a few drugs.

It's really a dramady because the resolutions of conflicts rest in some serious soul searching while the writers have kept enough light tone to lift spirits when gloom seems to be the order of the day. Laughs are more an expression of agreement that life is messy. The antidote is humor and love.

Easy enough when dad cries out that his infidelity is borne of never being what his wife wanted him to be. Then Dana embarks on an affair to neutralize her fears of marriage. Both indiscretions seem to be rooted in insecurity.

This bright indie respects the humanity of its characters so that it makes no judgment but rather celebrates their weaknesses and emphasizes their strengths and also believes that in 1995 the world is ready for an easy bridge from tape to floppies to digital, from eyebrow rings to tattoos.

The film's good will extends to minor characters like Dana's lover,Nate (Finn Whitrock), a pleasant former school chum with a resemblance to John Davidson, in other words wholesome with a cute smile. The film allows that such a romance is not outlandish, just morally questionable so as to endanger her engagement. Equally so dad's affair, although we never get to know his paramour.

Mostly Landline is about people who stay connected, not by current restrictive social media but by talking. This retro way of communicating might be the film's subtle prescription for long-term happiness.

In 2017's mediocre New York family drama "Landline" Jenny Slate cheats on decent fiancée Jay Duplass (with Finn Wittrock) while her younger sister Abby Quinn (best performance here) continues rebelling against their parents: uptight careerist Edie Falco; & laid-back academic John Turturro (who may or may not be cheating himself). Co-writer (with Elisabeth Holm) / director Gillian Robespierre does an ok (though not best in class) job evoking the 1995 setting and balancing the story lines & tones (though it coulda been snappier with more humour woven into the drama). It's watchable enough fare (especially for the ladies) but sure won't pull up any trees.

I was rather surprised by Landline. For one thing it's about two sisters and neither had an infectious disease neither was a serial killer, prostitute or wearing spandex in the Marvel Universe.

Just some real drama and although spotty here and there script wise there was some really very telling moments about the sisters here. The big deal in the film is that dear old dad is something of a 'man whore' I suppose you'd say. Played rather carelessly by fine actor John Turturro. The guy is honestly a bit of a slump.

More interestingly is the affair of the older sister Dana, played very nicely by actress Jenny Slate, she and her younger sister Ali, Abby Quinn are sterling as sisters, really sympatico.

The ending felt right as well with dad slumping in, I mean I don't see Harvey Weinstein catching a break!

Still, sisters rarely get to be shown on the big screen and here I liked the tough but knowing interplay between them. I'd of liked to see more of them if this were a series instead of a movie.

There is some drag however, a sort of malaise to the action that draws on too long. The film could have used a more savvy Editor, I hate to get tech with you here, I mean this isn't AFI... but the Editor is very, very important! Especially one who isn't swayed by a Director who is often a tad too close to the material.

Lastly is the time 1995, wow, I'd forgotten how cool it could be back then. It was great to see this decade again. Which is surprising to say the least!

See Landline, some of you may really hate it but I think many of you might like it too.

This film tells the story of two sisters who discover that their father is having an affair. They deal with it in different ways.

The story also tells the love story of every major character in the film. It tells how every person relates to the world around them, and how they connect with their significant others. It is very real life like, and hence it can feel draggy and boring at times. All the couples involved have different outcomes, and it gets interesting and reflective at the end.

The story felt a little generic but the film's makers put their stank into it and made it fresh.

Felt almost felt like a Woody Allen movie he did not make because of all the cheating going on in it. The typical story of a family going through hard times. This particular tale revolves around two sisters who discover dad's stepping out on mom, but one of the sister should not throw bricks at glass houses. Did a good job of putting us in the 90s. It seems like there was no real need for the movie to have taken place in the 90s unless the filmmakers were really sold on the name of the film. You see the landlines in the film but they don't really do anything for the story, but there were a few funny moments (really just two) about being a teen in the 90s and the technology available to us.   The characters are really good and the actors give great performances as them, which is what really makes the movie over anything else.   Liked it.

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