Struggling writer Wally Spivak is stuck in a rut--until he meets an engaged couple and starts to see life in a whole new way.Struggling writer Wally Spivak is stuck in a rut--until he meets an engaged couple and starts to see life in a whole new way.Struggling writer Wally Spivak is stuck in a rut--until he meets an engaged couple and starts to see life in a whole new way.
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Jenna Lyng Adams
- Woman at Elysian
- (as Jenna Lyng)
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Spivak is a tiny ugly man who is constantly humiliated by life. His only ambition, to be a writer, is thwarted by his biggest critic: himself, as he writes and rewrites the same novel, to the cruel delight of the mean people around him. Single on a Valentine's Day, he is suddenly approached by a gorgeous girl who asks him to spend the night with her. This changes his life, to his great chagrin and ultimately delight, transforming him from a hateful frustrated little man into a relaxed and positive success.
I liked the way it was played. I have to say most of the scenes were really painful, as the actors all did very well and you could understand the main character's confusion, fear, shame and pain. The moral of the story has to be that you're doing it to yourself, as a bunch of beautiful rich people attempt again and again to make his life better, while he just fears that he doesn't deserve it.
While Michael Bacall did great as the titular character, I would say that most of the movie was carried by Robert Kazinsky's Chuck, a guy so sickeningly positive that you can't but doubt his good honest intentions. It's a strange movie to see. If Spivak wasn't so monstrously unlovable, the movie would have been more credible and easier to swallow. As such, I can only perceive it as a writer's dream, free of all pretenses. Or maybe that's my inner frustrated little man, unable to accept the possible beauty of the world. You decide, as you watch the film. It provides more questions than answers, and that's the whole point.
I liked the way it was played. I have to say most of the scenes were really painful, as the actors all did very well and you could understand the main character's confusion, fear, shame and pain. The moral of the story has to be that you're doing it to yourself, as a bunch of beautiful rich people attempt again and again to make his life better, while he just fears that he doesn't deserve it.
While Michael Bacall did great as the titular character, I would say that most of the movie was carried by Robert Kazinsky's Chuck, a guy so sickeningly positive that you can't but doubt his good honest intentions. It's a strange movie to see. If Spivak wasn't so monstrously unlovable, the movie would have been more credible and easier to swallow. As such, I can only perceive it as a writer's dream, free of all pretenses. Or maybe that's my inner frustrated little man, unable to accept the possible beauty of the world. You decide, as you watch the film. It provides more questions than answers, and that's the whole point.
I found this movie endearing, uplifting and inspired. Misunderstood artist lost in his own self-doubt, insecure in his own ability, but happenstance and stepping out of his comfort zone open him up to the possibilities in front of him and renew his faith in the world. Yes, it has it's cheesy moments, but all in all, a nice change of pace.
But I can't stop letting it run here on my computer. Something pleasant (but totally unbelievable) has to happen.
This one could have easily fell into the same trap of so many low budget slacker comedies. Cliched gamers sitting on the couch, cocky sarcastic losers, sexual innuendos, etc. Thankfully they actually avoided those things. This movie tends to teeter on complete farce and romantic comedy. It works on that level. There are some laugh out loud moments like the empty Vegas club with the pulsating music, and some brief tender moments when the golfer tells him how much he loves the book, and he 'gets' it. And it's sort of fun watching the story play out. So there are some redeeming factors. But where this movie, and so many others, fail is that they present what is basically a depressed sad sack loser who never says anything funny, brilliant or really insightful, yet for some reason two hot babes, one is a Laker girl, are able to see through all that, see him for what he is and they fall for him. I think that's very lazy writing. Anyone can fall for anyone, but there ARE reasons. There was nothing in this dude that any women would really like, let alone an upper class babe or a hot dancing Laker girl.
The main character is frustrating to watch.... self pity, aimless, losing attitude.... until slowly but surely his life turns around when he meets people completely at the other end of life spectrum !
Did you know
- TriviaRobert Kazinsky and Bradley Dodds play brothers in this movie. While Bradley Dodds had previously played a fairy on the HBO series True Blood (2008), Robert Kazinsky had previously played a vampire-fairy hybrid on that same series.
- GoofsThe camera is reflected on the hotel window, where Wally is.
- SoundtracksNocturne No. 2 in E-Flat Minor, Op. 9 No.2
Written by Frédéric Chopin (as Frederick Chopin)
- How long is Spivak?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $1,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 31m(91 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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