Donald and Jess

Donald is a lonely plumber, listening to self-motivational tapes as he drives to his jobs. At this one he finds himself in the home of badly hung-over Jess. At first she has no idea even what his deal is, and is in no mood for his friendly banter – however as she starts to help him she warms a little bit. When Jess' partner enters the home, Donald's newfound connection is threatened.

This is currently classed as a drama on IMDb, which I think is the wrong genre since this is much more comedic in nature, albeit with a solid dramatic heart via the characters. The delivery throughout is what makes it work though, because it has this awkward detachment from reality that seems to connect to Donald as a character (he is the main character here). As his self-help material has been pumping him full of advice disconnected from reality, so too he reads too much into small connections, and comes on too strong – so although he is a nice guy, he is also pretty odd. This plays out very nicely in the film, keeping this sense of awkwardness consistently, thanks to the framing of the action, and the performances.

Lustick is very good through; really getting his character and giving us a very satisfying little arc across the film. Basil is less complex but a good presence, while Allynne is good as Jess. The film is rarely funny so much as amusing, and ultimately the narrative does not amount to much in terms of traditional narrative, but I did find it nicely awkward and with a satisfying arc for Donald – even if I totally understand why it would not be everyone's cup of tea.