15 Days

How is it possible that the casting director hired all people that can't act whatsoever? This is embarrassingly bad. I got 30 minutes in and had to shut it off. Pure garbage. I literally can't believe that this movie was financially backed by anyone. I can't think of a worse movie I've ever watched before.

"15 Days," written and directed by Robert James, is a heartfelt and inventive indie film that captures the spirit of resilience during one of the most challenging times in recent history. Set during the Covid-19 lockdowns, the story follows two best friends and coworkers at a bar and grill who turn to unconventional-and often hilarious-ways to make ends meet.

This film stands out for its authentic portrayal of economic struggle, creativity under pressure, and the unpredictable ways people adapt when everything is turned upside down. It's a comedy, yes, but one with depth and real-world relevance. It resonates especially if you've ever worked in the service industry or know someone who has.

What makes 15 Days particularly compelling is its fast-paced editing and unique tone, which keep you engaged from start to finish. The performances-ranging from professional actors to everyday people-bring a rawness and sincerity that's refreshing. Some of the delivery and tone evoke the charm of 1990s indie films, especially those by Hal Hartley, blending dry humor with thoughtful introspection.

This is not just a pandemic movie-it's a story about hustle, friendship, and the unexpected paths we take to survive. A great watch for fans of indie comedies and character-driven storytelling.

This in some ways feels like a Hollywood type movie that wanted the Indie look. The story immediately feels close to home as the first setting is in a local bar you might find anywhere in America. For some reason, it reminded me of one of my favorite shows of all time, Cheers. It has that immediate feel of "you are where you're supposed to be and with friends". The plight and story of the two leads, Lia and Kali, are also very relatable and reminded me of those early crazy days of Covid lockdown where the world changed forever. Solid story and one where you feel like you're hanging around with long-time friends. Worth a watch.

Needless to say that I had, of course, never even heard about this 2025 comedy titled "15 Days" prior to stumbling upon it by random chance. And with it being a movie that I had never seen, nor actually heard about, of course I opted to check out and see what writer and director Robert James had to offer.

The storyline in the movie was pretty straightforward. But for a comedy, I have to say that the narrative was rather devoid of comedy.

While I was not familiar with a single actress or actor on the cast list, it was actually something that spoke in favor of the movie. I do enjoy watching new and unfamiliar talents on the screen. The acting performances in "15 Days" were fair.

I suppose "15 Days" is watchable, provided you have nothing better at hand. But this is definitely not a movie that I would recommend you to go out of your way to get to watch. Nor is it a movie that will ever grace my screen a second time, as I struggled to finish it the first time around.

My rating of writer and director Robert James's 2025 movie "15 Days" lands on a three out of ten stars.

Wow, does this film bring back those early pandemic-lockdown memories. The whole look and feel of the film, especially in its stillness, echoes that strange time. And with its two leads being service industry workers, indefinitely on a COVID hiatus, our hearts can't help but go out to them. Thanks to their very real, lived-in performances - and the terrific writing and directing (and producing and editing) of Robert James - we are with these characters and the movie every step of the way. It takes a lot of innovation to survive a pandemic-economy, and this story brings that all to live in truly interesting ways. According to IMDb, this was movie was amazingly shot for only 12,000 dollars! But you would never know it to look at. Good acting, well shot, 15 Days is nothing short of an ultra-low-budget miracle! I thoroughly recommend this movie.