TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2016 // A REVIEW OF "ADULT LIFE SKILLS"
Anna (Jodie Whittaker) is fast approaching 30. This is not a good thing. At least, not for Anna. She's stuck in a rut, unable to move forward at all. She lives in a shed outside he mother's house. What she does excel at is mastering the art of doing nothing. And making funny online videos, like a space expedition using only her thumbs with faces drawn on. Her mother and grandmother (Lorraine Ashbourne and Eileen Davies) don't quite know what to do with her but they both know that enough is enough. Truly young Anna needs an emotional push into some adultish-ness, to learn some ADULT LIFE SKILLS.
Based on her BAFTA-nominated short film Emotional Fusebox, Rachel Tunnard's sweet oddball film is by far the charmer of the fest. Anna has suffered some sort of loss, though at the beginning of the film we're not quite sure what it is. So she slogs on day to day making weird videos and refuses to actually grow up. Her life begins to get a bit of a jolt when a young boy from next door (Ozzy Myers) starts coming around after his own mother gets put in the hospital. Strangely drawn to her, he someone understands her and begins to look up to her. Anna's best mate Fiona, played by Rachael Deering, comes back into town to spend time with her, make her laugh, push her into happiness. But something continues to hold her back and it's something that her family, the little boy next door, her friend, nor her neighbor Brendan with a sweet crush on her (Brett Goldstein) can fix by themselves. They're going to need help. They're going to need Anna to come back.
Tunnard’s direction (from her own screenplay) is swiftly assured. It takes its time rolling out Anna's story and allows you to always be on Anna's side, no matter how stubborn she's being (well, almost always). The script is fresh & funny, deftly original and very, very funny. Jodie Whittaker is wonderful in the lead role, both equally funny and broken. Her Peter Pan syndrome becomes more & more relatable the more time you spend with her. The film can only work if her control is on point and it is. Though her character is not at all self assured, her performance certainly is. Rachael Deering turns in a performance that makes you wish she was your best mate. She's just as odd as Anna and knows exactly how to make her laugh. Her performance is supportive and strong. The entire ensemble is quite good in each way, from the marks of Lorraine Ashbourne & Eileen Davies' lovingly turns of support to the quirkiness of Brett Goldstein's oddball, loving neighbor to a sweet introductory performance from Ozzy Myers. Also of note is a strong performance in small but pivotal role from Edward Hogg as... well you'll need to see it to find out. And see it you should.
ADULT LIFE SKILLS is my favorite film of the entire fest, and it may be yours too. It's strange, odd, endearing, hilarious and heartfelt. It's the emotional fusebox that I needed on a Friday night and I hope you visit Anna's strange little shed yourself very soon. You'll be glad you did.
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Rachel Tunnard STARRING Jodie Whittaker, Lorraine Ashbourne, Brett Goldstein, Rachael Deering, Eileen Davies, Alice Lowe, Edward Hogg, Ozzy Myers
MATEO'S VERDICT: MUST SEE
FINAL THOUGHTS: A true oddball gem, and my favorite of the fest.
MATEO MORENO is an actor, writer, and a playwright. His plays Happily After Tonight, Bohemian Valentine, & Within Our Walls have been produced in NY and beyond (TBG Theatre, NY International Fringe Festival, Planet Connections Festivity, Boomerang Theatre, and FOHS Theatre). He most recently co-stared in the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway play City of Glass at The New Ohio Theatre and appeared in the workshop of Uzume at LaMama. Next he will be seen in An Unseen Visitor at Symphony Space. Mateo is also part of Athena Theatre's 2016 Playwrighting Group. He lives in Brooklyn.