Hot Picks
|
|
|
I Love Us
USA 2021
produced by Danny A. Abeckaser, Kyle Stefanski, Mike Hermosa, John Brewer, Jeff Hoffman, Isaac Gindi (executive), Eddie Gindi (executive), Ron Rofe (executive), Katie Cassidy (executive), Gustavo Nascimento (executive)
directed by Danny A. Abeckaser
starring Danny A. Abeckaser, Katie Cassidy, Harlow Jane, Jasper Polish, Robert Davi, James Madio, Greg Finley, David James Elliott, Courtney Lopez, Jacqueline Chavez, Elya Baskin, Christian George, Jackson George, George V. Andreakos, Ray Bouderau, Diana Madison
written by Kosta Kondilopoulos, music by Lionel Cohen
review by Mike Haberfelner
|
|
Sammy's (Danny A. Abeckaser) is a professional thief, very much like
his father Harvey (Robert Davi) was before him - and in fact, his father
is his employer these days. Both are waiting for the "big fish"
to turn up so they can retire after one last heist, but the fish seems to
be reluctant to show. One day, on the bus riding home from a heist of all
places, Sammy meets Laura (Katie Cassidy), a well-to-do widow, and against
all odds, the two hit it off immediately, so much so that they get married
after a few months time - of course, without him telling her how he makes
his money. Everything's great, until one day she's run over by a car and
dies. Sammy's left grieving, and so are Laura's teen daughters from her
previous marriage, Audrey (Harlow Jane) and Rachel (Jasper Polish). Now
Sammy not only sees it as his duty to bring up the girls up in their
mother's stead, it's also what he really wants - but while Audrey has
quite taken to him, Rachel rejects him. Plus, child protection services
want to take the girls away from him, as he's not blood relation, which is
why he persuades Laura's ex drug addict brother Rob (Greg Finley) to live
with them, which at times seems to do more harm than good. Plus, Rachel
starts to behave increasingly erratic. And exactly when things at home are
going downhills, Sammy and his dad seem to have a job on their hands that
might allow them to retire. But that job needs lots of preparation, plus
two of their team (James Madio, David James Elliott) show signs that they
can't be fully trusted ...
A cross between family drama and gangster/heist movie - there
are just so many ways this can go wrong ... and yet, I Love Us
works like a charm, especially since it neither relies on overblown
emotions nor spectacle but concentrates on storytelling with an emphasis
on characters. And the lead personnel is all shown as multi-layered
individuals rather than just clichés who are afforded their own arcs, and
especially Sammy is drawn as deeply fallible but also relatable, and while
no attempt is made to excuse his criminal side, he comes off as complex
and even likeable. And a very solid ensemble make this one movie that's
well worth a watch, even if neither family dramas nor gangster flicks are
your cup of tea.
|
|
|