It Hits You When You Know It

A group of old friends who haven't seen each other in years gather in a cabin the night before a wedding. Old issues boil up as they reconcile their life choices and past relationships. The film is a contemporary 'Big Chill' with naturalistic writing and a standout performance from Patrick Rieger.

I judge every film on its own merits instead of comparing everything to my favorite films like other reviewers. That being the case, it took me about five to ten minutes but I warmed to this little indie flick. "It Hits You When You Know It" has a great feel-good vibe. I enjoyed the high-key lighting and vibrant colors; too many films these days are too dark to even see. The writing is smart, witty and definitely on the higher end of the scale than some other indie films I've seen recently. Overall, the casting was good with Cameron McCormick and Katy Dolle being the standouts for me. The characters were interesting and had depth. Another thing I really appreciated is that the scenes were just the right length. I've seen a lot of independent films and one common flaw are scenes which run way too long. That isn't the case here and the story moves along briskly. The cast is good and so is the premise and execution. Well done.

You can't watch this without being reminded of the all-time classic that is The Big Chill, and it is certainly unfair to compare the two films.

Having said that, this little indie film does what it does and does it well! The ensemble cast is solid with good solid performances, and characters/dialogue/situations ring true in a relatable way.

This is a strong recommendation!

Plays beautifully with the awkward nature of reconnecting with old friends and the wounds that are still left open. The characters all had nuances and deeper inner lives that revealed themselves in interesting ways. Really liked the balance between the humor and drama, especially with standout Patrick Joseph Rieger as Chris, who carries the story with laugh out loud lines and his own heartbreaking struggles. The characters all feel like real friends and by the film's climax, you wish they could hang around a little bit longer.

This emotional story of friendship, infidelity and reconciliation unfolds in an idyllic mountain location. What stands out here instantly is the cast, which pretty much blew me away with their energy and charisma. The quirky platonic pair of Patrick Joseph Rieger and Phylicia Wissa are so authentic and funny together they make me envision them in their own sitcom - maybe an updated "Will and Grace". The entire ensemble creates some warm, funny, and dynamic moments, and the vibe of the film is on point. Hats off to Elisa Manzini for creating a story just serious enough to be substantial, but light enough not to feel morose.