User Reviews

Full disclosure up front: the writer/director of this film is a friend of mine. But he's also one of the more genuine guys I've met in the business (and in the Canadian film industry that's saying a lot), so if the movie sucked he would expect me to rip it and indeed I would. Thankfully it doesn't. It's not a great movie, but it is very good and I'm quite happy to recommend it.

The story is simple. Montreal man meets Toronto woman in the streets of Montreal and invites her up to his apartment. Of course, you might think something diabolical would happen next, but thank god for Canada—they hit it off, have sex and start to fall in love. With online dating and online sex now becoming the norm this is a refreshing and almost retro premise, but it's completely believable.

From the first moment to the last, Greg Shamie, who plays the man, animates every scene of the movie. He never strikes a dishonest moment and his comic timing is near perfect. We root for him as he desperately tries, and almost succeeds, in making the woman fall in love with him. Stacie Morgain Lewis is good as the woman, but it's hard to compete with such a dominating presence as Shamie.

The scenes play out in long takes, with a lot of improvisation (I presume) and, unlike a lot of first films, the screenplay here is not a trap created by a mediocre screenwriter's stumblings to find his craft, but instead it's a launching pad for some beautiful and touching scenes between this man and woman. Spontaneous singing of songs from Grease and acting out scenes from A Streetcar Named Desire are my favorites. The woman popping zits on the man's back is hilarious, especially after he has told her he hates that.

The ending of the movie does come a bit early. At 80 minutes you are left wanting another act. Perhaps this is budget related because I know that an indy film that is 80 minutes can almost kill you, but a 100+ minute movie one can definitely put you in the grave. The epileptic seizure of the man hints at something a little deeper and perhaps darker but we never go there. The whitebred woman from Toronto has some issues but we don't really go there either.

Nevertheless, the ending is heart-wrenching and oh so real. With a very simple, "you're not the one" the relationship is over. A few minutes later she leaves and doesn't look back. It ain't Hollywood, but it is a dead on depiction of the reality of relationships today. They seem so perfect for each other that this really does come as a shocker, but I think it's indicative of a culture always looking for something more.

Other issues I had with the movie are the chapter breaks that are intercut into the segments. They repeatedly show the couple cuddling on the couch, but this disrupts the subtle dynamic of the relationship that is built up through the movie, and it annoyingly hints at what is coming. For example, in the "Crossroads" chapter we know there is going to be a problem and it would be better just to experience it without a forewarning. The music is subtle and well placed, so the final song over the ending seems a bit much. And the fact that the man's profession is painting with his penis although feasible (if not a bit painful) seems somehow out of place in this movie.

All this aside though, this is a very good movie. It's so utterly refreshing to see a Canadian movie that I can relate to and that has something to do with my own life. These are people that I've known and scenes I've lived and that is rare in the largely elitist-Telefilm-oriented-Atom Egoyan worshipping Canadian movie culture where one is often left wondeirng if most Canadian directors have had a girlfriend or a job or any semblance of a life. Not Sorligas. You know these scenes come from a very personal and heartfelt place.

More importantly though, this movie almost makes one want to fall in love again, or failing that, it at least convinces one that it is worth a try. Because even though the woman doesn't reciprocate his love at the end, it's been such a fun journey it reminds us that life is not just Hollywood happy endings and the cuddly gooey lovey dovey stuff, it's also the jolting pain of a love unreturned.

The man seems heartbroken at the end, but Shamie as the man, is so engaging and has so much fun, we suspect he will meet another woman who is even more perfect for him and fall truly, madly, deply in love with her.

I am commenting only because of having read the negative reviews here.

I watched this movie a few hours ago without any expectations. In fact, only 5 or 10 minutes into it, I didn't expect to watch it until the end. I am SO glad I hung in there because it was definitely worth it.

I've had a relationship very much like the one between Manny and Alex. The first few days after we met were so much like what happened. (Minus the painting ;)) The relationship was an on and off one over the next 2 years. Primarily because of the distance between us. I wasn't able to fully commit to it and although its been years since the relationship ended, this movie helped me see what happened.

Sometimes you can meet someone where everything IS like a checklist of what you want in and with someone, but it isn't necessarily enough. Although it can be heart wrenching for both people, unfortunately that is just the way life and relationships are.

I appreciated this movie, not so much because of my own personal experience, but because it IS like real life. More so than most movies that are made. Not just for the story line, but also the dialogue and the characters acting was more REAL than the majority of movies I've seen.

I'm definitely not an indie-movie type person and in spite of being Canada, Canadian flicks usually bore me to pieces... but I think this one is definitely worth a watch.

I still remember how great I felt after watching this movie...

I hope more comedies come out with as much heart and soul.

Lots of twists and turns and a few very memorable feel-good moments.

This film was shot in Montreal and if you look carefully you'll see snatches of the McGill Ghetto in certain scenes. I like that the filmmaker chose this part of Montreal to film in.

This is a film with a topical script, real emotion and two leads who seem to really dig each other's company, not just two actor's running through their lines.

One last thing to say...

"Peanut butter!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

My friend rented this movie... I usually really like Can-Con and romantic comedies can be pretty fun, but I have to say that this movie was a bag of crap. Sorry for anyone associated with it, but the script was just weird (not in a positive "Magnolia" kind of way but rather a negative, this-doesn't-even-make-sense and I'm-cringing-at-the-stupidity kind of way). The other user comment said that at the end of the movie you feel like you've made two new friends. Well, the other user must not know anyone cause these characters are dumb and annoying and too high maintenance to even be alive. Once again, I apologize to the people associated with this movie. I know it's hard to write and act, but come on. What is with the last scene? The dude yells out "Elephant shoes". The girl starts crying with the most melodramatic face ever. Cue the cheesy love song (sung by the lead actress-awesome decision). Try again guys.

This is a great little movie. We had no idea what it was, but found it really entertaining- seems if you like big action scenes this may not be for you. But it was a great date movie and the characters and acting was really good! I want to see where the characters end up- I hope there is a sequel! There's a few sexy scenes- but they are believable and not in the film and there's nothing that is in bad taste at all. So much of the film is shot in their apartment but it never feels claustrophobic. The end of the movie is a bit sad (spoiler???) as you kind of think they will end up together and all live happily ever after. I defiantly recommend it though and wish that we were able to see in a nice little indie theater instead of DVD- so if you see it come up as a festival - go see it for sure!

I really enjoyed this film, it's been a while since I've had the pleasure of watching a small budget film of this caliber. Having grown up in Montreal and now in LA I always try to pick up some home grown talent when I can. To be honest I'm not one for romantic comedy but this one is really clever. Kind of like what would happen if any of us were to have hit the fast forward button with some of our romances. The casting was well done with both Manny and Alex giving good performances. If I recall correctly the director popped this thing out in a few days with a credit card...Impressive. At the end of the day if your looking for an enjoyable insightful film to watch that doesn't drag on forever definitely pick it up.

Stumbled across this gem in a Halifax video store.

(The spoiler part follows: Truly nice boy meets semi-reluctant girl, boy charms girl, boy and girl fall madly in love...for one night. Boy loses girl. But not in a bad way. In a hopelessly romantic kind of way.)

Quirky but real characters. These people could be my friends. In fact remind me of people I know.

A sort of romantic comedy but not a chick flick. Not corny, movie love but the telling of kind of an oddball union, a genuinely touching one-night-stand.

This movie has moments that are sweet, weird, sad, hilarious, scary, touching AND accidental farts.

All the stuff of real love.

A great independent, off the beaten track film!