PLUS ONE

(director/writer: Jeff Chan/Andrew Rhymer; cinematographer: Guy Godfree; editor: John Daigle; music: Leo Birenberg; cast: Maya Erskine (Alice), Jack Quaid (Ben), Ed Begley Jr. (Chuck), Rosalind Chao (Angela), Beck Bennett (Matt), Finn Wittrock (Steve), Tim Chiou (Nate), Perrey Reeves (Gina), Jesse Hodges (Amanda), Finn Wittrock (Steve); Runtime: 99; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Jeremy Reitz, Debbie Liebling, Ross Putman, Jeff Chan, Andrew Rhymer, Greg Beauchamp; RLJE Films; 2019)

“If you like swimming in the traditional rom-com shallow water you won’t drown with this charmer.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A decent but uneven familiar rom-com, set among the 20-somethings in Southern California, by co-directors and writers Jeff Chan and Andrew Rhymer. This is the NYU graduates feature directorial debut.

Longtime single friends but opposites, college students, Alice (Maya Erskine) and Ben (Jack Quaid), agree to be each other’s plus one at every summer wedding they are invited to after reuniting at the wedding for their friends Matt (Beck Bennett) and Amanda (Jessy Hodges).

Maya Erskine plays the drunken acerbic Asian-American Alice, who is still hurting after rejected by the philandering Nate (Tim Chou); while Jack Quaid is Ben, the fearful of commitments one. He still suffers from psychological pains after his parents divorce. Ben wants only the perfect woman.

The gist of the film has the leads taking shots at each other after each wedding they attend, until predictably they come together and realize they’re a good match. The film’s best assets are in how captivating are the leads.

Ed Begley Jr has a good turn as Ben’s finicky dad, getting ready for his third marriage. Rosalind Chao plays Angela, Alice’s opinionated mother who nags her when her younger sister gets married first.

Not too deep a premise, but if you like swimming in the traditional rom-com shallow water you won’t drown with this charmer.

REVIEWED ON 8/10/2019       GRADE: B-   
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