FRANKLY A MESS is the type of wild and raunchy dark comedy we've come to expect from Wild Dogs. Penning the script this time around (along with taking on many additional duties) is director Fredianelli's longtime producing partner Maralynn Adams. Adams populates her world with colorful characters and outrageous situations that range everywhere from hilarious, to sexy, to gross. The movie has a strong visual style which brings to mind things like a Tonya Harding bodysuit or the neon pink and green color palette of the FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR opening. Everything is big and bold and you'll find everyone from drag queens to drag kings, fetish models, and webcam perverts. Set in LA, the movie is also notable for its on-location shooting that provides a wonderfully unglamorous depiction of Hollywood. The movie's cast of characters led by wannabe actress turned webcam fetish model Frankie (Natasha Estrada) come off as highly entertaining. Estrada in particular shines at bringing to life an eccentric character while still keeping her performance believable and not akin to a cartoon impression. This movie is also easily the most estrogen filled of movies in the often male dominated Wild Dogs canon. That's certainly refreshing along with a woman screenwriter giving the characters voice. Sometimes you might recognize a character or two spouting off very Fredianelli-esque dialog and whether or not the director wrote a few things uncredited or if Adams and Fredianelli just happen to be soul mates is yet to be determined. In any regard, the multiple talents on display here put something together that is very fun to watch.
As far as the movie goes, there are more than a few laugh out loud moments and images that stay with you. A drug fueled hallucination in the latter half of the movie is certainly standout and comes as one of the movies best assets. There are a few things about the movie that don't quite work however. While we get a decent variety of locations and the great LA city environments, the movie is full of a lot of dimly lit interiors that manage to feel a little more dull and restrictive. The film is also a bit more loosely plotted and while that's fine, the movie does seem to drag a bit towards the end and might have benefited from slightly faster pacing and a shorter running time. In conclusion, give this decidedly indie movie a watch. It is FRANKLY quite hilarious.
