Review of People, Places, Things (2015) by Tim M — 12 May 2016

People Places Things from writer-director Jim Strouse is another in a long line of indy dramadies trying to navigate a crowed field. In some ways this is distinctive, but in others it's annoying.

You can clearly tell this is coming from a man's perspective as the recent separation of our two leads Jemaine Clement (Will) and Stephanie Allynne (Charlie) is all about portraying the man as the innocent victim and the woman as the crazed selfish lunatic. So right away we have strike one. Strike two is the underdeveloped supporting characters. Regina Hall as Clement's love interest and Michael Chernus as Allynne's barely have anything to do. The movie wouldn't even be watchable if it wasn't for Clement. He carries this sometimes funny, but mostly annoying flick with facial expressions and voice work that few could pull off. Jessica Williams also makes a few appearances as one of Clement's students and the daughter of Hall. The actors are talented the writing is take it or leave it. While I understand this is from Will's perspective you must understand where the woman is coming from in movies like this. She isn't happy so painting her as crazy as a writer comes from an inherent belief that when you can't satisfy a woman it must be her fault and for that reason it completely took me out of the movie. I guess I'm too much of a feminist for a movie like this!

The couple, who never married also have two twin six year old girls. Strouse writes for them like they're ten at times and like they'e three at others. At times the kids are way more in touch with what's happening then any normal six year old. So overall, it's uneven with really good acting and some great comedic spots and some fun twists. You're much more likely to like this as a man than as a woman and that inherently is problematic for me.