In a World review — sharp comedy fuses the caustic and the cute
THE race to win the rights to say the three words that have traditionally opened the biggest, brashest trailers in modern movie history makes for big laughs.
Leigh Paatsch
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In a World (M)
Director: Lake Bell (feature debut)
Starring: Lake Bell, Ken Marino, Fred Melamed, Demetri Martin, Nick Offerman.
Rating : ***1/2
SAY the title slowly out loud in a deep voice, and you’ll immediately get the reference. These three words have traditionally opened the biggest, brashest trailers in modern movie history.
As In a World begins, the right to be the one to utter that sacrosanct phrase on behalf of all Hollywood is up for grabs.
There are two clear frontrunners for the job.
Sam (Fred Melamed) is a voiceover legend who has paid his dues behind the mike. Gustav (Ken Marino) is a maverick-come-lately by comparison. Both have pipes that silence and seduce an audience in a snap.
These intense rivals are also great friends, serial lady-killers and rampaging egomaniacs.
In fact, their mutual admiration society is so removed from reality, they fail to recognise a fresh new talent who could beat them both for the prized gig.
Her name is Carol Solomon (Lake Bell). She just happens to be Sam’s youngest daughter. And she also just happened to be Gustav’s most recent conquest at a sleazy showbiz soiree.
Carol has been written off by all as a disorganised ditz. She has always had talent, but has never made anything of it. Will Carol grab her big chance to slip past the old guard? Or will she stuff it up as always?
The final answer doesn’t matter half as much as the unusually awkward (and highly entertaining) manner in which these questions are asked.
Just as Bell’s adorably distracted lead performance will be sure to win admirers here, so too will her accomplished writing and direction of In a World.
Bell’s sharp comedy instincts allow her to fuse the caustic and the cute to often delirious effect. Mark her down as a name to watch.
In a World is screening exclusively at the Cinema Nova, Carlton.
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