Review of In a World... (2013) by Panta O — 17 Jan 2014

Lake Bell's feature directorial debut In A World..., is quite an impressive work of art. Excellent natural directing, her screenplay won the award for best screenplay at the festival in early 2013, she herself stars as Carol, a struggling voice coach who still lives at home with her father (Fred Melamed), an aging voiceover artist who's a legend in the industry for his trailer work. There is nothing actually in this movie not to like. Smooth performances with natural witty dialogues continued during the whole movie, even when the awkward situations were introduced, and she gets kicked out of her father's house and moves in temporarily with her sister Dani (Michaela Watkins) and her husband Moe (Rob Corddry) - getting involved right into the middle of a domestic crisis.

This movie has a fresh approach to opportunities - this time this was an opportunity knock when there's talk of a comeback for the phrase "In a world," popularized by the late Don LaFontaine, and a competition to determine whose voice will bring it back. Carol decides to try her luck into an exclusively male field recording the famous words - turning her father into a bitter rival.

Lake Bell was really good in playfully investigating feminism in a comedic form, but you can see her personal experience as well, because she did had aspirations to be one of the great voiceover artists. Of course a feminist conversation is surrounding the idea of the "omniscient" voice in our society being always male... and that gives us some space for a thought! If you are up to young lady who proves to be a natural behind the camera, getting sincere and heartfelt performances from her cast while maintaining the film's easy rhythm, and perfectly executing her triple duty (as writer, director, and star) - this film is definitely the right one for you!