JUST A LITTLE TASTE // A FILM REVIEW OF "TOO LATE"
In comedy, there are tons of comedians who are dying to get on the biggest and best stage in hopes of getting discovered. That statement is taken a bit too literally in the new horror comedy TOO LATE, which follows a group of comedians and a very, VERY hungry comic legend. Alyssa Limperis plays Violet Fields, the hard working assistant to comedy legend Bob Devore (Ron Lynch). She sets up everything for him and books all the comedians for his show "Too Late." A few of them Bob takes a special shine to and they end up in a private meeting with the legend, never to be seen again. Violet also books her own smaller show, where she ends up meeting another young comedian Jimmy Rhodes (Will Weldon). They both share an instant connection and, unlike all the other comedians she meets, doesn't immediately hit her up with trying to get a spot in either show. After some late night flirting, she gives him a spot on her show, since she actually believes in his talent. However, Bob also takes a shine to the young talent, leaving Violet in a very, VERY precarious situation.
TOO LATE is full of a lot of fun cameos from comedians both widely known and not so wildly known and the script riffs off in some very funny ways. Alyssa Limperis is a winning lead, sarcastic and dry and is a great view into this world. Ron Lynch is strong too, even if his character is a bit one note. I do wish the filmmakers would have amped up the horror a bit. As it is now, it's weird and strange but not ever scary. The rest of the supporting cast all turn in great work, creating a very funny and charming ensemble, all working great together on screen. The romance between Limperis and Will Weldon is well played and played sincerely, which adds some nice gravity to the silliness. Sadly it's true that the third act putters out, with a resolution that isn't nearly as good as the rest of the film (however, the very final moment of the film is just the right button). All in all, TOO LATE is a fun, campy, silly little grotesque of a film that's well worth the watch and gives just the right shades of a modern Little Shop of Horrors.
GRADE: B
WRITTEN BY Tom Becker DIRECTED BY D.W. Thomas STARRING Alyssa Limperis, Ron Lynch, Will Weldon, Jenny Zigrino, Paul Danke, Brooks Wheelan, Fred Armisen, Dinora Walcott. Now playing in select theatres and in digital cinemas. For more info: TOO LATE