Review of For a Good Time, Call... (2012) by Tom S — 10 Oct 2012

Swanner: Former college frenemies find themselves living together in New York after Lauren gets dumped and Katie grandmother passes away. Katie can't afford grandma's apartment alone and Lauren has nowhere to live. When they both need cash they decide to start a phone sex line. Simple plot for this indie film. Okay, it wasn't that simple but it was as fun as it sounds. September finally brings in something that didn't have me running for my car.

Judd: Shot with a digital camera (an Arri Alexia) in 16 days, you have to admire producer/actress Ari Gaynor (Fringe), writer/actress Lauren Miller, and director Jamie Travis for their pluck and determination. Both Ari and Lauren collected business cards and cashed in all their favors to get this moderately funny, amateurishly made movie to the big screen with cameos from the likes of Justin Long, Kevin Smith, Seth Rogen, Mimi Rogers and Nia Vardalos.

Swanner: It's definitely has that indie fell but with good editing. The movie moves well and they are smart to know not to stretch out a simply comedy like this to Judd Apatow running times. The script is very sitcom-ish but that's what makes it work. The jokes are obvious and fast but funny and its 85 minute length doesn't give to time to lose interest. I think it's a really good first effort and I'm hoping this proves to be a hit because I?d much rather see these kind of films coming from the indie market than boring piles of crap like last year?s Martha Marcy May Marlene.

Judd: The movie, to me, felt like it would have been more comfortable in the ranks of direct-to-video, but again I give kudos to three relative unknowns getting a movie produced and in the theatres. And while it was rough around the edges, the performances were all great with great chemistry between Gaynor, Miller and Long. And speaking of Justin Long, is he ever going to age?

Swanner: He's only 34 but he did look early 20's but some are blessed to look younger while some are cursed to look older. It's the reason people think we went to high school together. I think most Indies look direct to video but the combo of script/direction/editing & acting lifts this out of DTV hell. Tucker and Dale vs Evil from last year had the same good bones. I do want to remind people that the characters are phone sex operators so the film is rated R and the language is quite dirty I thought it was interesting that there was no nudity. I liked the movie and I?d definitely tell folks to go see it.

Judd: I earned my grey hair and wrinkles. The fat keeps your wrinkles filled in, and as far as your real hair color? Only your hairdresser knows for sure. I thought the direction was a bit weak, and the camerawork was downright terrible, but overall the positives of the film outweighed the negative. I can see a future for the director as he continues to hone his skill. The cinematographer should find a desk job right away. He should look into being critic. While I won?t tell anyone to run out and buy a ticket, I would tell them to add it to their Netflix queue.

Swanner: ***.

Judd: **.