It's kind of odd and somewhat antiquated, now that I think of it, to picture a movie like this, where voiceovers for trailers are as highly esteemed as they are, being released in 2013. Sure, I do vaguely recall a time when voiceovers in trailers were a big deal and telegraphed to the audience that THE MOVIE WE ARE ADVERTISING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MOVIE YOU WILL SEE UNTIL THE NEXT MOST IMPORTANT MOVIE. But, after the passing of Don LaFontaine in 2008, the art of epic voiceover work for trailers seemed to subside.
Lake Bell's comedy, In A World..., resurrects the importance of a single powerful voice in the pantheon of movie legend by taking a decidedly striking approach: pitting one woman with a voice that rivals her male counterparts against sexist mores instilled in society. Granted, there's much more complexity and intricacy going on than that concept, but this is the main conflict the film posits a rebuttal to. Bell (in addition to writing and directing) plays Carol, daughter of fictional famous voiceover artist Sam Sotto, who, after being discouraged by her father on the difficulties of breaking into his line of work and being kicked out of his house, goes to stay with her sister and her husband who are themselves going through marital struggles. Other plot threads intertwine, including a fellow employee (Demetri Martin) with a crush on Carol and a rival voiceover star (Ken Marino) under Sotto's wing attempting to bring back the title phrase made famous by LaFontaine.
The film's subject matter has become its main talking point and it's for good reason. How often have you caught yourself thinking that we need equality of the sexes in a career like trailer voiceovers? The movie aims to ferment this notion within those who had never considered it before. But, what could have easily been a preachy message of equality comes across as an original, fresh take on feminist culture. This is most obviously present in one of the final exchanges of dialogue in the film, which eschews radical Amazonian feminism referenced throughout the film for a general instillment of empowerment that could serve as a strong stand-alone argument for the movement as a whole.
Bell's script here is sharp and witty, zipping along at a brisk pace that keeps the plot moving at a natural speed as opposed to rushing through all of the necessary beats. Bell brings an astoundingly human, flawed, yet good-natured turn in the lead role, but Martin's lovable awkwardness and Fred Melamed's realistic stubbornness are noteworthy as well. The supporting cast is excellent here, with Michaela Watkins, Marino, Rob Corddry (yes, this movie is somewhat of a mini-Childrens Hospital reunion, though Marino and Corddry never appear on screen together) Nick Offerman, and Tig Notaro (exceedingly funny in her brief screen-time) among others in bit parts.
Though the script does allow for a lot to happen in a light 93 minutes, it also lets quite a bit go and is, at times, overstuffed. A minor plot thread involving Carol's sister and an Irish director seems to go nowhere after it's resolved with 30 minutes left in the film, aside from a brief reference at the end. Another minor character, a British neighbor, appears in two scenes with hints that she may become important later in the film, but then disappears without a mention.
The movie is also structured in an unorthodox fashion. The first two-thirds of the movie serve as an ensemble piece of sorts, with the big conflict at the end hinted at but not pursued. By the third act, all other side plots are dropped and the main arc of the film becomes the only one. While this isn't necessarily detrimental to the film, it sticks out quite a bit and leads to some awkward shifts in pacing.
But the film gets by on its charm alone. It's a genuinely enjoyable film that has its highs and lows, but I found myself liking it throughout, flaws and all. By combining a noteworthy concept with a overwhelming amount of positivity, In A World... won me over by being the most likable thing a film can be: charming.
No comments:
Post a Comment