Hit and Runway

I went to see "Hit and Runway" on the same day I went to see "The Mummy Returns." After enjoying the former, I couldn't even sit through twenty five minutes of the over-produced and under-written "Mummy" sequel. "Hit and Runway" is a true gem--not perfect by any means--but so much more bright and engaging than most of what Hollywood has to offer. It is a "story within a story/odd couple" film. Though not entirely original, it does everything it sets out to do well and with great humor. Anyone who wears glasses, is Jewish, Italian, gay, writing a screenplay, looking for love, interested in how Hollywood works, and/or simply appreciates intelligent, off-beat comedy should enjoy this film. It has the sensibility of "Ben Stiller meets Woody Allen." If any of this sounds good to you, see it.

Hit and Runway may at first glance appear to be another one of those movies about struggling screenwriters trying to write a movie. But unlike most of their blockbuster counterparts, this movie is not about the movie that Alex and Elliot are writing, but it is about the friendship that they forge throughout the experiment. Although the screenplay they are writing is not particulary good, the broader movie is able to focus on human nature, and the inexperienced actors are good in delivering timely humor. On the whole, a strong movie and a good career start for up-and-coming director Christopher Livingston. Well Done.

The main purpose of this comment is because I was so disappointed by the other review on this site. It completely misses the point of the movie and I would hate for someone to only read that one and then not see the movie. The story is very well put together. It begins with rough, thumbnail (almost stereotypical) characters and you are ready to be put off. Then the story gradually develops and we get to know the two main characters in a full, three dimensional way. Each comes forward through the story line as complete, reasonable, and likable. The message of the movie is presented in a systematic and approachable way, without being in any way obvious or predictable. I can highly recommend this movie to anyone who is halfway sensitive and open to seeing gay people beyond the usual four corners often found in gay pride parades. By the way, if you like this movie, you will really like The Big Eden, probably opening near you soon, if not already.

I liked the fact that most of the people in this movie were pretty much unknowns to me. This eliminated the "superstar" factor; where I get so distracted by the person playing the character that the character doesn't develop. I loved the idea for their screenplay; the premise was so funny, the scenes they showed were hilarious. The scenes with the family at the restaurant were very realistic. Even the gay Christmas party was good. Elliott reminded me of a gay Woody Allen (which, if you think about it, would have saved Mia a lot of trouble). Alex, I couldn't quite pigeonhole that easily. Didn't seem very ethnic, ethereal; he seemed more like a jock than a writer. All in all, I think this was a really good movie. I came across it by accident and I hope you do too.

Set in New York City, this thoroughly modern story centers on two young men who collaborate on a screenplay, in an effort to become professional writers. Their arrangement is a kind of literary odd-couple. Alex (Michael Parducci) is an overly confident and slightly pugnacious chump who is straight. His writing partner is Elliot (Peter Jacobson), a timid gay man who lacks confidence in himself. The two are polar opposites. Yet each has personality traits important to their collective endeavor. Alex has the confidence and the dreams. Elliot has the talent.

The strength of the story is in the characters, and in the dialogue, which can be amusing at times, like when self-assured Alex says: "Hopeless is not a word in my vocabulary". To which the cerebral Elliot responds: "I suspect there are a lot of words that are not in your vocabulary".

Much of the plot is propelled by verbal conflict between the two. At one point, they are discussing a story character named "Inuska", a young woman. Alex says: "Now what was so terrible about what we were writing? It was funny, it was sexy". Elliot responds: "Inuska, the leading lady, she was two-dimensional". To which Alex fires back: "What are you talking about, two-dimensional? She was stacked!"

Some of the plot's romantic encounters are distracting. Yet they are probably necessary to engage much of the audience, as the process of writing is not visually exciting.

Alex and Elliot are two very different personalities. Yet each learns from the other. And the film's theme is about how people's lives affect their writing, and how their writing affects their lives.

"Hit And Runway" is a smart, sometimes funny, extended sitcom about two very imperfect people who must work together. The film is not some big budget, grand epic with a profound message. But it's well made. And for what it sets out to do, I think it succeeds reasonably well.