BOOZE BOYS & BROWNIES tells the story of Vivian Lynn, who is pursuing her dream as a self-professed over-actor, with a love for theater and musicals, who seeks fame in Hollywood like all young aspiring starlets but is haunted by a failed relationship in the City of Angels.
The story draws us into Vivian's life, depicted in a dreamy musical production, as she belts out her rendition of the Al Jolson's song "You made me love you, I didn't want to do it" only to be interrupted by the presence of her former boyfriend, Luke, played by Alan Kaiser.
Over the course of the next 30 days in December, culminating in a bittersweet New Year's Eve party, Vivian shows us life in L.A. (sarcastically referred to as Hell-A) for an actress newly arrived, whose days are filled with auditions, circumventing slimy producers with promises of fame in exchange for sex, and juggling relationships with the help of a friend, played by Ariel Hart, as she searches for something real in a land infamously known for its mastery of illusion, fakery, and deception.
In one memorable dream scene, of which there are many, Vivian sees her friend "zombified" as a result of living in L.A. Vivian fears she has also changed and has lost the innocence that drives her passion for performing in front of a live audience. It is only when performing that she feels no sadness, no loneliness and wishes every day could be like living in the spotlight on-stage- it is there that she truly comes alive.
This very enjoyable film combines the best of musicals from years past along with comic touches reminiscent of Cary Grant comedies of old. The script has touches of self-deprecating humor, irony (such as when Vivian proclaims she is tired of dating actors because they are so self- absorbed), and well written song lyrics that carry the film forward or expand upon the scene as the actors suddenly break out in a song and dance number.
