Band Aid

Band Aid is a quirky indie picture written and directed by Zoe Lister-Jones that depicts the lives of Anna and Ben, a young married couple struggling not just with the dishes, but unemployment, un-fulfilment, miscarriage and of course the frailties of a monotonous marriage.

Together, both Lister-Jones and Adam Pally are brilliant in depicting a realistic and grounded relationship that balances comedy and drama, as the two uniquely deal with their marital problems by turning each and every fight into a song performed alongside drummer and neighbouring creep Dave, played by Fred Armisen.

The whimsical and clever lyrics of each song aside, the film is genuinely fantastic, both in direction and writing, with Lister-Jones churning out a brilliant performance that has me, and many others wishing she would write and direct more

Anna (Zoe Lister-Jones) and Ben (Adam Pally) are a couple fighting about everything. They are struggling. She suggests turning their fights into songs. They start a garage band with their sex-addict neighbor Dave (Fred Armisen).

Anna and Ben have some fun back and forth with Hitler jokes. I don't particularly like anybody else nor do I truly hate any of them. It's a lot of quirky hipster Hollywood and not necessarily that funny. It's especially true for Fred Armisen. He's trying too hard for my taste. I also don't like the songs. I struggle with that whole side of the movie.

I like Zoe and Adam. The movie hints quite forcefully early on about a great lost. It's revealed later on but an earlier reveal would have been better. It's not that shocking and it hung over the movie for the first half. Once revealed, the relationship has some terrific emotional scenes. There is something in this pairing but the surrounding elements don't always work.

This film was such a pleasant surprise. It was really refreshing to watch two people who could be from my life and to have conversations that seemed real. Not clichéd or cheesy. The chemistry between the lead characters is incredible. I had to google to see if they really were in a relationship! Much enjoyed Friday night in, kind of uplifting film.

Band Aid is a musical comedy that starts off very light hearted, fun and quirky but ends up discussing genuine marital issues, what it means to be in a long term relationship with someone and getting over loss. All the while incorporating great, entertaining music.

Starring Zoe Lister-Jones, Adam Pally and Ravi Patel the cast captures their respective characters very well, the two leads initially managing to capture the constant bickering of long married couples brilliantly in an almost too mundane but authentic way. While also managing the tenderness and genuinity of their relationship in several scenes that shows the love and care between the two.

The film's first half is indeed quirky and fun as the characters from this band and begin singing about their arguments and what they hate about each other. There is a growing debate between the two as Pally's Ben considers himself a realistic and Lister-Jones' Anna is the 'dreamer' this conflict of characters drives most of the drama and conflict of the film but is also what ends up bringing them together towards the end of the film where the film takes a more serious turn discussing the ideas of meeting a middle ground and of compromise.

Band Aid is a fun microcosmic view of human romantic relationships, a meditation of what it means to be with someone and issues of loss and the role of emotions. While also managing to discuss gender roles and the different ideologies that men as men hold and women as women hold, there is something very tender, soft but philosophical in the discussions of the film. Making Band aid a feel-good type watch that isn't taxing at all, a very easy watch.

Got to see this at Sundance earlier this year and really loved it. Great chemistry with the cast. Witty and smart and thoroughly entertaining, with some truly poignant moments sprinkled in as well. In addition to a strong voice behind the film, navigating between the humor and drama, Lister-Jones was very captivating on the screen as well, and her music didn't miss a beat as well. Overall very impressive little indie film.