Elements of Matter

This feels like a middle-schooler tried to write a Woody Allen script. Dialogues are ripe with stuttering, unfinished sentences and in general feel like they're 100% improvised - by actors who failed improvisation class. One of the worst movies I ever watched (I actually hit STOP at halftime, something I pretty much never do), if this even classifies as "movie" and not "outtakes from high school impro class 101". Avoid.

Fritz (mistakenly?) ends up in an inhabited place he assumes he rented in Palm Springs for a week. A famous Hollywood star already resides there. When they bump into each other they both pass out and wake up cuddling accidentally.

Yet Lilly who is undergoing an "existential crisis" already spontaneously decides to keep the intruder and introduce him as her new boyfriend to her family. This hilarious premise becomes less far-fetched as we meet the extended family, friends and coworkers.

Despite their privileges they all deal with all kinds of issues, fears and sorrows, just like everybody else. There is a lot of authentic dialogue in here (not the scripted artificial blockbuster one). So you have to listen and empathize.

At the end the movie fizzles out a bit as we get a closer look at more characters. If you are into a meditative and even spiritual experience this slow paced chamber play is for you. It mainly takes place in one house, the other scenes outside are merely changes of place and not meant to introduce action sequences either.

So wind down, relax, extend your attention span and enjoy. Otherwise move on. If you make it to the end you may have gained some insights on how near actual happiness is.