Review by mike-29068

Filmmakers are only beginning to grapple with the upheaval caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and Robert James's "15 Days" is a strong entry in that genre. The film provides laugh-out-loud moments as two service workers - bartenders Lia and Kali - resort to increasingly outlandish schemes to stay afloat when their bar is shut down. Never passive victims, they fight back with words when they can, and fists when they have to.

The snappy dialog and quick pacing keep a heavy topic from becoming morose as the two women struggle from one sketchy part-time gig to another, never quite knowing who might be ready to help them and who might be ready to start shooting. When things start to look their bleakest, both characters draw on hidden, or previously unknown, talents to survive and even thrive. The two leads, Kenzie Marie and Cameron Bailey, share a goofy chemistry reminiscent of the best parts of "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion." Through it all, they keep their chins up and keep fighting. Some of the smaller roles stand out as well, including a gambler with Melissa McCarthy levels of comic vitriol.

James makes the visuals dynamic, with tracking camera moves through varied locations, and scenes broken logically into component shots (accomplishments not every indie production can manage.) As director and cinematographer, he pulls double duty with aplomb. Watch this one if you want some silly laughs, and to be reminded of the compromises most of us made in those strange early months of 2020.