Humpday

It isn't hard to imagine what the inevitable porn-knock-off of this film will be called. It, much like the concept of the story, would need only minor tweaks to make it big in x-rated world. The predictabilities however end there.

This funny, sharp-witted comedy is festival gold. Accessible enough to be embraced by a mainstream audience but with enough craft in it's construction to satisfy the festival crowds and scratch the arthouse itches one has.

Essentially the story is this: Ben and Anna are contentedly living their married life complete with white picket fences. The inevitable planning for children has begun. The unannounced 2am arrival of old college friend Andrew starts Ben questioning his buttoned down life. While at a party, the severely drug and alcohol impaired due joke about starring in a film together to enter into a local pornography festival. The elephant in the room is brought up the next day, but instead of laughing the issue off, their male egos force a stale-mate and plans are made.

The characters are all well rounded and come across as genuine and likable (no mean feat when you consider that the entire film as been improvised based solely on pre-production workshops). The dialogue is witty and very well timed along with some rather pregnant pauses that sent waves of laugher through the audience.

The thinking man's Bruno might be how I will describe this to friends. Genuinely funny, entirely improvised around character development, and challenging sexual pigeonholes as well as the fate of the individual in a relationship.

Awkward Turtle is the phrase of the moment for a friend and I and that is what this film did so well. Lots and lots of wonderful awkward turtles. This is the cringe I love to love.

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4 Stars