"WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!" // A FILM REVIEW OF "VANILLA"
A road trip movie is the classic movie comedy formula that more often than not soars. However, since there's been so many of them over the years, they can tend to veer into a predictable "been there, done that" feeling. The new comedy VANILLA, written and directed by Will Dennis, does indeed share some of those qualities. But it also has a freshness to it, and a star making turn from its leading lady, Kelsey Bauman-Murphy.
Writer/Director Dennis casts himself as Elliot, a down on his luck designer in NYC needing a break while creating a new app. His ice cream delivery idea is not going over well. People are either confused, uninterested, or annoyed. So to help pay for a redesign, he decides to sell his beloved white van. After a few weeks of potential, but not successful, offers, he finds an interested party in Kimmie (Bauman-Murphy), an aspiring comedian working at a Pizza shop with her ex-Uncle Sal (Eddie Alfano). Almost as quickly as she's bought it, she needs to return it for a refund. Since Elliot also needs the money but wants to impress his new crush, he decides to offer it to his ex-girlfriend Trisha (Taylor Hess) who's currently working on a film production in New Orleans. Their producer wants it for their film shoot and offers to pay them to drive it down. Being that Elliot wants to please the new girl in his life and also still holds a flame for his ex, he decides to road trip with Kimmie and drop it off. So the longest first date, both by hours and milage, begins.
The set-up is the least interesting part. It's contrived and somewhat unbelievable; there's no way Kimmie would jump in a car so soon with a complete stranger (at least, not outside of a My Favorite Murder storyline) and the ex-girlfriend on the other end is very much a "been there, done that." However, the movie is saved from itself by the witty and winning performance by Kelsea Bauman-Murphy. She's both cringy funny and naturally funny and charms you every second of the way. Her performance is real and feels lived in. Also, the natural chemistry of Bauman-Murphy and Dennis is often very sweet. The smaller role of Sal is hilariously played by Eddie Alfano and there are several bit parts that hit in all the right ways. It feels like (in the best way possible) an indie movie from the late 90's. It has the scrappiness of the The Brothers McMullen-era self made films, and never outwears its welcome.
Besides the performances, there is a lot going for the film: the banter feels cute wihout ever venturing into annoying, a stand-up scene is wonderfully painful to watch, corny "rules" to the trip (including dance sequences) are a cute touch, and there's several important statements made through Kimmie's character. Sex work should be respected! Toxic Masculinity should not! You can be a cisgender male without being such a stereotypical cisgender male. And there's a lot of rightful shade onto the type of guy who shows up at a women's rights protest, braging about how much he supports a women's rights protest. But other things about the script don't quite work, like the main plotline of Elliot needing money but we come to find out that he's rich. So why exactly does he do anything in this film? What might be meant as making fun of the archetype of a prideful young rich white man comes across as tone deaf. The film starts to sputter out in the final act, with an ending that I'm still not sure how I feel about. Overall though, there's a lot to enjoy here and VANILLA is a charming, throwback romantic comedy in a time where it feels good to just sit back and feel good.
GRADE: B
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY: Will Dennis STARRING Will Dennis, Kelsea Bauman-Murphy, Eddie Alfano, Taylor Hess. Now available to rent on digital platforms.