Starring: Guy Pearce, Cobie Smulders, Kevin Corrigan
Results
Director: Andrew Bujalski
Rating: 4/5
Andrew Bujalski has already brought us movies likes Computer Chess and Beeswax in recent years and this week he is back in the director's chair with new comedy Results.
Recently divorced, newly rich, and utterly miserable, Danny (Kevin Corrigan) would seem to be the perfect test subject for a definitive look at the relationship between money and happiness.
Danny's well-funded ennui is interrupted by a momentous trip to the local gym, where he meets self-styled guru/owner Trevor (Guy Pearce) and irresistibly acerbic trainer Kat (Cobie Smulders). Soon, their three lives are inextricably knotted, both professionally and personally.
As wrinkles turn into complications, then blow up into full-fledged issues, the talented ensemble keeps the pensive tone light and the complex plot breezy. The end result is a charming shaggy-dog tale that's been hitting the gym: taut, limber, and powerful.
I have to admit, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I sat down to watch Results, but I did find it to be a rather unpredictable, charming, and quirky romantic comedy.
Granted, it is not as original as some of Bujalski's earlier work, but it is great to see the filmmaker tackling a wide range of film genres as a director.
It was the characters in the film that I was particularly drawn to in Results, as they are just relatable as well as endearing - with some great performances from a truly terrific cast.
The chemistry between Guy Pearce and Cobie Smulders is just electric and is one of the major ingredients as to why this movie works so well. Thrown in some great comedic moments from Kevin Corrigan and you have a love triangle that you really cannot take your eyes off.
I know that a love triangle in a rom/com doesn't sound all that original and yet, this low budget comedy does have an incredibly refreshing feel to it. We have seen movies such as Frances Ha and Drinking Buddies in recent years, and Results is another of these great movies in this low budget rom/com genre that come in under the radar.
Results is a movie that follows people who are looking to achieve physical perfection, but is also delves into the insecurities that come with the ambition for a better body. These are characters with major flaws and yet you cannot help root for them and - in a way - admire them.
Results is a rather uplifting and charming movie that is a breath of fresh air when it comes to the rom/com genre. Pearce, Smulders, and Corrigan make a terrific comedic team and they really help elevate this film, while Bujalski has delivered some that is incredible refreshing.
Results is out on DVD now.
Tagged in Guy Pearce Cobie Smulders