Lust for Love

Watching this fine cast try to work in this silly movie made me embarrassed for everyone except those who had parts too brief to do them much damage, and, of course, Enver Gjokaj who acquitted himself well by playing Jake the Butthead straight and thereby getting the most genuine laughs.

Most of the "jokes" just weren't funny and didn't make any sense, which is interesting since that is what is said about the main character at one point. A little autobiography then from writer-director Anton King? I like Fran Kranz and Dichen Lachman but their roles and dialog were awful. Kranz's character does variations on the same joke over and over. Lachman's character, the epitome cool combined with cluelessness, is not that interesting. There might be something universal about relationships buried here but it was obscured and trivialized here.

While we wait for Joss Whedon's own scifi/romance movie "In Your Eyes," those of us who have become enamored of the many talented actors he has worked with and whose careers he has cultivated over the years have something to watch. "Lust For Love" is a Kickstarter-funded, Web-based (so far) project that reunites several of the cast members of Whedon's short-lived but brilliant TV series "Dollhouse" -- Fran Kranz, Dichen Lachman, Enver Gjokaj, Miracle Laurie, Maurissa Tancharoen, and Felicia Day. They obviously became close during their "Dollhouse" experience, and that closeness just as obviously carries over into this delightful rom-com.

I'll be honest and state that I'm probably too old to appreciate this movie. It seems aimed at an audience 20-somethings, and as such I would say that it succeeds admirably. Kranz is tremendous as the nebbishy Astor, hoping beyond hope to get back together with the narcissistic girl of his dreams Mila (played by non-Whedon-alum Beau Garrett). Towards this end he secures the services of Mila's ex-best friend Cali (played superbly by Dichen Lachman, who also co-produced this film). Much embarrassment and dating horror ensue, almost all of it portrayed with heart, and a fairly light heart at that. This is not one of those cynical movies about dating and romance.

It was great to see many of the "Dollhouse" actors together again, and those who loved them will probably be the first audience for this film. But I thought that the film (written and directed by first-timer Anton King) has merits of its own, and I hope it reaches a wider audience. I suspect that it could stand on its own among the classics of young-people romance films, up there with "Say Anything."

Lets start with the bad things. The story is recycled to the point of not even being funny. Not going to get into details not to be spoiler-y, but I can think of at least a dozen movies since the 80s (including one from John Hughes), which tell pretty much the same story. Oh, did I say bad thingS? I meant mediocre thing. Singular.

The casting is first class. I mean, not only we are filled with Joss Weadon alumni, as a bonus we get Caitlin Stasey. The production is simple but effective. Directing is one of the finest. Acting, also first class.

Lust for Love is a recycled love story, which would ordinarily make is a B movie even for an indie. However, the overall qualify of the movie; and yes, even the take on the story, recycled or not, make it something you definitely should watch.

"Disappointed" is the word that springs to mind after finishing this film for the first time. After watching the trailer I was sure this would be a hit - what could go wrong with throwing together a load of Dollhouse alum in front of the camera? Apparently, almost everything. Fran Kranz, as always, plays his role brilliantly considering what he had to work with and is, in my opinion, the film's only saving grace. The acting in general is largely wooden, the directing is flat and uninteresting, the plot is cliché and predictable, but most of all - the script is horrendous. The writer seems to opt for a snappy Whedon-esque form of dialogue that falls so flat for the most part, it can be painful to watch.

I can only express my sincerest condolences to those who backed this project on Kickstarter, and were looking forward to this film as much as I was.

I'm proud to have been a Kickstarter backer for this movie, it turned out to be everything I'd hoped it would be. As a dedicated fan of Joss Whedon's for over a decade, it was both exciting and fulfilling to see so many of my favorite actors reunited for this gem of a romantic comedy. The fact that the writers and actors put so much time and effort into creating this film given the budget restraints truly shows their passion for storytelling and makes watching it all the more rewarding. The writing was witty, creative, and honest as it looked at the complicated world of dating and love. The chemistry between the cast helped bring the characters to life from the beginning of the film, making me laugh and sympathize with them along the way. Lust for Love is a definite must see...