FILM INFO: A single father has his life turned upside down when a new-age yogi mysteriously shows up in his kitchen and forces him to confront his past in a way he never imagined.
WRITTEN BY: Kevin Resnick, Rebecca Norris DIRECTED BY: Kevin Resnick GENRE: Comedy, Romance TIME: 90 minutes.
The romantic comedy. Within the world of film there was a time, not so long ago, when mixing these two genres was a major taboo. As it was slowly broken, using established celebrities to help ensure a profit, indie filmmakers gradually began experimenting with the hybrid. One could argue the point, but the mixing of these two styles, by studios first and not the independent producer, is one of the few times the Hollywood machine has beaten out the independent artist by trying something new... and gotten it right. In the last decade or so, indie and low budget artists have really started dabbling with the rom-com style. The results have been varied but for the most part, haven't been all that impressive. Enter Kevin Resnick and Rebecca Norris's film "Cloudy With A Chance Of Sunshine" to the scene. Showcased within this indie film is everything you expect will be here, with a few interesting twists. We have the lonely man with an incredibly cute little girl, we also have a fittingly sad backstory revealed to compliment his dreary life. Then... send in the woman! With the personality you know she embodies. Hell, even give her a great, bubbly name such as: Sunshine! Are you following along? "Cloudy With A Chance Of Sunshine" sounds exactly like every other film of this genre. Right? So what sets it apart? For starters, it is in fact, an indie production and unlike many, this one actually looks great visually. With that said, let me add that following the tried and true path isn't always a bad thing, if you can make it look and sound great. This film does that. So again we're left with that endless question. What sets this title apart? Honestly? Story-wise... not much. You've seen similar stories before and you'll see them again. All the classic elements are here: Horrible boss, stoner friend and some comedic situations. Our heroes "first date" in the film is a great example. As you'd expect to find funny situations here, so you shall. The smart script and few odd-ball scenarios, such as our lead characters escort loving Father, really add some unique touches to the film. Through these situational imaginings, "Cloudy With A Chance Of Sunshine" does manage to separate itself from the competition. Enough that I, personally, had a fun time watching even knowing exactly how it was going to end. As I wrote above, the reason a tried and true formula works is because it's tried and true. Nothing wrong with some familiarity so long as it's done well. In fact, that very familiar feeling can work for the filmmaker, by making us feel comfortable enough to step inside. Once that door is open... you get the idea. Technically as I wrote above, this is a refreshingly nice looking indie film. Not only does it look nice, but I can't find any flaws in the performance of the cast themselves. Everyone simply fits perfectly into the world director Kevin Resnick works hard at creating. I could fill an entire alternate review on the cast, so I'll just say that "Cloudy With A Chance Of Sunshine" feels like a perfectly cast movie. Aside from that, we are treated to a nicely written script showcased by some excellent camera work and crisp dialog. What more could you ask? All this is colored near perfectly and overall, technically, this is a nice looking production. As for the edit itself, for the most part it pushes the story forward quite nicely, which was why I was a little surprised at what I call a "rookie mistake" that happens throughout the entire film. The fade to black transitions. "Cloudy With A Chance Of Sunshine" simply reeks of a seasoned crew. Near everything about it. So why the countless fades? These particular transitions are meant to be used once in a while. Aside from "stylized" movies, many films rarely use them or not at all. It signifies, to the viewer, a major plot change... among other things. Every time I was completely into the film, the screen faded to black, then sometimes used the fade again to come back in. This completely brought me out of the film and believe me when I write... there are a "lot" of fades. Because this is such a well done film, I really wanted to just forget about them, not bringing them up at all. But I really couldn't. Not when half-way through the film I began groaning: "Ugh. Another one?" as the blackness entered in. Maybe something to keep a special eye on for future productions. "Cloudy With A Chance Of Sunshine" really is a good film. It also happens to be a great "indie" film. The familiar yet unique elements of the story act like a comfort blanket, sucking you into the lives of these characters. The smart use of comedy, and excellent character execution by the cast, elevate this production well beyond the average status of so many similar films. As Kevin Resnick and his team set out to make you feel good and smile a little, you can't help get caught up in this quirky film. Highly recommended to anyone who simply wants to be entertained for a short while, and maybe feel a little better when it's done.
