Review of Cashback (2007) by Rob K — 07 Dec 2012

Cashback (Sean Ellis, 2006).

The description at Netflix for Cashback actually refers to the short film Sean Ellis extended into this feature-length version, and concerns only a single sequence. It makes this sound like some sort of sexist science-fiction softcore; the movie, thankfully, has far more in common with Office Space than it does with some sort of interplanetary version of Gor.

Plot: Ben Willis (Sean Biggerstaff from the Harry Potter franchise) has just been dumped by his longtime, and first, girlfriend Suzy (EastEnders' Michelle Ryan). Seemingly unable to create and having developed a severe case of insomnia, Ben takes a job working graveyard shift at a local supermarket. Eventually, he discovers another talent (or is it all in his head?): he finds himself capable of stopping time, wandering through the frozen landscapes to find inspiration for his artwork. (This is where the description comes inâ"he stops time during a shift and wanders through the aisles, undressing customers and co-workers alike and sketching them.) But all that, while advancing the plot in a couple of key scenes, takes a back seat to the inherent craziness of graveyard shift at a grocery store, as well as a budding romance with co-worker Sharon (The Pianist's Emilia Fox) that lands Ben in a bind when he runs into Suzy at a party.

It's fun stuff, with a ridiculous but all-too-believable cast of co-workers to provide hilarity, a solid romance angle, and a crew who knows what they're doing, headed up by director Sean Ellis (who would return two years later with the above-average The Broken). Unfortunately, the final sequence of the film takes a turn into the godawful, but it's not enough to completely derail this otherwise delightful piece of work. ***.