© FAKESHEMP.NET
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Podcasts
    • Podcasts
    • Good Movie Monday
    • WTF was that?
  • MEDIA
    • Videos >
      • Photos
  • GLG
  • Blog
  • Interviews
  • About

ALMOST FRIENDS

28/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
2017 | DIR. JAKE GOLDBERGER | REVIEW BY ALEX MAYNARD.

While some might argue that teenagers and twenty-somethings have an unrivalled number of opportunities available to them, the myriad of  uncertainties that stem from making so many choices can be downright overwhelming. In hindsight, many of us would likely concede that our younger selves were often fixated on relatively minor issues, but at that age it’s easy to feel as though each decision must be agonised over. After all, you may be living with the consequences for a long time. Jake Goldberger’s ALMOST FRIENDS seeks to examine this formative period, and succeeds at clearly, if overly familiarly, presenting the wide spectrum of emotion that defines it.
This is exemplified in the story arc of Jack (Jake Abel), a character who, in my opinion, should’ve been ALMOST FRIENDS’ protagonist. When he is first introduced, Jack’s motivations aren’t so much unclear as they are non-existent; Goldberger quickly emphasises his general passivity to recall the stereotypical apathy of aimless young people, newly liberated from the rigid structure of high school. Indeed, early in the film Jack is reluctant to accept a job offer despite not even being required to interview for the position, which is perhaps the most archetypal ‘slacker’ beat a character could take.

I’d initially assumed that this offer was simply a sycophantic ploy from Charlie (Freddie Highmore), the film’s true lead, in an attempt to please his love interest, Jack’s cousin Amber (Odeya Rush). However, Goldberger’s script pleasantly surprised me by continuing to dedicate time to Jack’s development; for instance, a running gag involving an arcade claw machine culminates effectively as a metaphor for expectations failing to match reality. Subsequently, the character begins to make mature decisions that utilise groundwork subtly laid earlier in the film, from the unexpected blossoming of a new relationship, to a surprise promotion at his new workplace. The next few years of Jack’s life may still be transformative and confusing, but by the film’s conclusion he’s demonstrably sorted things out for now.
Picture

​Nevertheless, ALMOST FRIENDS struggles to decide what to do with Charlie, which leads to many of his scenes dragging on. From early in the film I felt as though I wasn’t being given enough context to understand the character, particularly his supposed love of cooking. The script develops and never fully breaks the habit of telling rather than showing Charlie’s passion, and although being a professional chef is his ostensible primary ambition, the conclusion of this plot feels contrived. A scene late in the film provided the emotional heft and backstory I’d wanted from the character, and Highmore skilfully sells the revelation, but the story threads are all too far gone for the moment to have the intended impact. By contrast, greater emphasis is given to the love triangle forming between Charlie, Amber, and her boyfriend Brad (Taylor John Smith), although the exact nature of the two leads’ dynamic isn’t quite as fully realised as I would’ve liked. Given the film’s title, and consideration for the decisions faced by people their age, it’s plausible that Goldberger deliberately resisted classifying the pair’s relationship as platonic or romantic as a commentary on indecisive modern dating trends. Yet simultaneously, the synopsis and trailer arguably imply that ALMOST FRIENDS is intended to be viewed as a romantic comedy, causing the film to suffer from a mild identity crisis. Focusing on the love triangle also greatly reduces the amount of development afforded to Amber, which is unfortunate since she faces the single most important decision of the film.

Although ALMOST FRIENDS delivers poignant reminders of the role of choice in our own maturity, their impact is diminished by the film’s own narrative indecisiveness. In my opinion, a greater focus on its grounded, relatable themes would have led to a more rewarding experience. 
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.


    OUR WRITERS
    GLENN COCHRANE
    JARRET GAHAN
    SHAUN CRAWFORD
    ALEX MAYNARD
    CHRIS THOMPSON​
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    September 2010
    April 2010

    RSS Feed

© 2018 FakeShemp.Net    All rights reserved.  FakeShemp.Net Illustrations by MJ Barros. 
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Podcasts
    • Podcasts
    • Good Movie Monday
    • WTF was that?
  • MEDIA
    • Videos >
      • Photos
  • GLG
  • Blog
  • Interviews
  • About