People Places Things

Studio: The Film Arcade
Directed by Jim Strouse

Aug 12, 2015 By Austin Trunick Issue #54 - August/September 2015 - CHVRCHES

Will Henry (Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement) is a single father of twin girls, one year removed from a separation with their mother (Stephanie Allynne). He’s been floundering since their breakup—he’s unwilling to start dating again, unable to finish drawing his graphic novel, and unequipped to handle the responsibility of raising two young children. When he learns of his ex’s plans to marry her new boyfriend, all of the issues in Will’s life seem to come to a head.

Filmmaker Jim Strouse’s romantic comedy presents today’s unconventional relationships and dating scene in a sweet and charming manner. People, Places, Things is well-cast across the board, but it’s Clement who channels his typical dryness into a surprisingly touching performance. It’s predictable, but beyond a few exchanges that are a little too over-the-top, it’s hard to find anything to dislike—there are many, many laughs, and the way comic book drawings are used to reveal the characters’ backstories is particularly inventive.

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