JUST THE THREE OF US // A FILM REVIEW OF "FIRST BLUSH"
The classic romantic comedy gets a modern update with FIRST BLUSH, a new film that explores modern coupling and the quest to make a polyamorous relationship work. It's not the first film to explore this kind of relationship, but rarely has it worked so well and been told so honestly. Nena (Rachel Alig) and Drew (Ryan Caraway) are a young married couple who sincerely enjoy and love each other. They're happy-ish, and it's apparent from the start that Nena is a bit wound up, while Drew is very much a "go with the flow" type. If Nena is happy, then so is he. She has a hard time accepting that and seems to know that "something" is missing from their relationship. Or perhaps "someone."
Drew secretly throws Nena a surprise birthday party for her 30th and to her surprise, half the people there are people she doesn't even know, since their mutual friend Carrie (Jordee Korpanski) invited several of her friends to make sure the room was packed. One of those strangers is a woman named Olivia (Kate Beecroft) and the two end up hitting it off by the end of the night. Nena is drawn to Olivia and is thrilled when she finds out that Carrie has invited her along on a group camping trip. As luck would have it, Olivia forgot to bring her own tent, so she has to share one with Nena and Drew. Drew also gets along well with Nena and eventually Nena brings up the topic of inviting Olivia over for dinner and...possibly more. The night goes off great and a second date is set. And a third.
But can this unconventional relationship last in the long run? The romance and relationship details is what writer/director Victor Newmark focuses on and presents it with a whole batch of honestly. The dialogue is fresh and sharp, and the three leads played by Rachel Alig, Kate Beecroft and Ryan Caraway have fantastic chemistry as well as great comic timing on their own. They are completely different people but you still completely buy the concept how and why they're each drawn to each other. Polyamorous relationships aren't often treated seriously in films. Mostly, they are more of a subplot or a raunchy joke, but here it's clear that the film knows the audience is ready for an adult look into trying to make a relationship like this work. Director Newmark crafts his film well, with a swift pace and witty, interesting dialogue. A subplot with their friends isn't quite as successful as the main one, but the film still works very well. If you live in a big city, chances are that you know a friend or two that is either in a Poly relationship or has tried one. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and the film presents it just like that, and just like any other relationship. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. But it's the journey that's worth taking.
GRADE: B+
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Victor Neumark STARRING Rachel Alig, Kate Beecroft, Ryan Caraway, Jordee Korpanski, Christopher Moaney-Lawson. NOW AVAILABLE ON VOD EVERYWHERE.