The Park Bench

I thought this movie was really lovely and funny. The acting was great and made me truly care about the characters. With the animated stories and the movie unfolding like chapters in a book, I enjoyed the idea of using literature as a way to get to know someone. It was a really fun ride. Nicole Hayden as Emily was fantastic - balancing her neurosis with warmth and a real tenderness for Mateo. I really enjoyed the way the two played off each other. Many of the books used in the story I remember reading which was enjoyable to revisit. Even though the story was small, I thought it tackled some of the bigger universal themes of love and friendship and passion.

I was almost halfway through this film before I noticed there was virtually no mise-en-scène. Take that is a high compliment.

I found myself asking if I could have come up with the budget for this film. It's a fun concept that never fails to intrigue!

The place setting comes alive solely through the narrative, and live it does. Awesome! Actors, words, a little lighting. Millions are spent to bring huge films to screen, but then a little gem like this comes along and says "Hey, why all the fuss? Tell a story."

Unpredictability is not the gold standard in film. Story telling is. Okay - I get it's not epic cinema, and doesn't come with a surprise twist ending - but the essence of what film strives to be is present and delivered.

What a sweet film! It sort of crept up on me how much I liked it. The two leads are so charming and real. The dialogue feels very natural. The stars have a chemistry together that is a delight to watch with each bringing their own personalities to their characters. The writing is excellent and is both insightful and witty. There is an innocence to this movie that is refreshing. The creativity of adding the animation is a very nice touch. It adds a new layer of story-telling that illustrates the way we open up to people and reveal pieces of ourselves. Nothing was forced or over the top. I am going to start it again and watch it all over. I hope more people discover this gem of a film.

I loved this movie! The dance scene is my favorite - I have re-watched it a thousand times just like I have the proposal scene from Pride & Prejudice. The relationship development was terrific. I've tried finding other movies with Walter Perez, but the others I've seen (Fame) didn't showcase him as well as this one.

I thought this movie was going to be slow and simple, but it was so much more than I originally thought. I really enjoyed it so much. It was charming and strangely moving. It hit me on a much deeper level then I had anticipated. The story follows two people who are forced together to pass a college literature class. The situations and dialogue that the two main characters share just feel so detailed and real. I love the way the stories are played out in animation. It adds another layer to the whole film. A big part of the success of the film is the two leads - Walter Perez and Nicole Hayden. They're so fun to watch and they're relationship with each other feels authentic. I saw it at a festival and can't wait until it comes out on DVD.