‘Situations’ Review: A Respectable Entry in The Los Angeles Cringe-Com-Com.

WHEN A FILM’S OPENING Credit Sequence Includes the Phraase “Shot Entirely on Location in Los Angeles, California,” You Know It’s Going To have that Particular La Vibe. I Certainly True of SituationsThe Debut Directorial Feature by Greg Vrotsos (A Veteran Actor Who Credits Include Many Episodes of Orange is the New Black), WHICH SHOWCASES NOT on Verdant Geography of the City’s Silver Lake Neighborhood But Also The Career and Relationship Issues of Make the City Such A Fertile Breeding Grouse Characters.

Nick, The Central Character Played by the Director/Co-Screenwriter, Certainly Qualifies as One of Those. In this film, which received ists World Premiere at the Oldenburg International Film Festival, The Successful Photographer is First Shown Getting Together With (kath.) Three MONHS after sheepated their break-up.

The Meeting Doesn’t Go Well, Since He’s Still Pissed About the “Spreadsheet” She Included in a Recent Email to HIM, in WHICH she detailed exactly how the assets should be divideed. “What Are We Doing Here?” He Asks Testily. She responds by Handing HM A Sealed Envelope.

WHEN HE OPENS IT LATER ALONON at Home, All He Can Say Is “Wow” Over and Over. He Calls His Lawyer, Distraughht. “My Chest Hurts,” HE MOANS. “I Thing I’M HAVING A Thing,” Sounding Like Woody Allen.

Or Maybe the Late Henry Jaglom, Whose Films This One Closely Resembles. As with the works of that SolipSistic filmmaker, plot is not a major element of SituationsThe Title of Which Proves Accurate. We Sese Nick As Heets with His Agent, Works at Photo Shoots and Has A Conversation with An Old Friend WHOM HAPPENS UPON AT A PARK. (The Scene Is Shot Entirely From A Distance, Either An Aeshetic Choice or Possibly to Avoid Permit Issues).

MOSTLY, The FILM DEPICS NICKWARD ATTEMPTS TO RE-ENTER The DATING SCENE, ESPECILY WHEN HEH VERY RELCTANTLY AGREES TO BE SET UP ON A BLINE DATE WITH A WOMAN NAMED GABIELLE. His anxiety leads to two of the Film’s Best Scenes. In the first, he nervously rehearses Conversation for the Date in Front of a Bathroom Mirror (I Mean, Who Hasn’t?). In the second, he arrives early at the fancy restaurant whoy’re meting, only to be Greeted less Early for his reservation. WHEN HE FINALLY DOES SIT DOWN, The Bartender (A VERY Funny, Deadpan George Basil) Informs Him That Drink He’s Ordering Is “Against The Law.” The Two Men VerBally Square Off HILARYUSLY, Demonstrating the Unique Art of Using Politense As a Form of Aggression. IT’s A Sequance That Could Have Could Straight Out of Of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.

Bailing on the Date Before She Arrives, Nick Bums A Light From A Woman (Fiona Dourif of The Pitt) SMOKING OUTSIDE The RESTAURANT. Althugh Their Encounter is Initially Hostile, They Next Seen in Bed Together, Whore They Discuss Their Respect Relationship Wees and She, What Else, Plays Him Him Her-Boyfriends

And so it goes, culminating in a scene in a which nick goes to a dinner Party hosted by his friends Friend paul STOD UP. What happens Next is Cringe Comedy Par Excellence, Including A Little Girl Finally Asking, “Uncle Nicky, Are You Okay?”

A Little of this sort of thing can go a long way, and SituationsWHICH WAS PREVIUSLY MADE as A SHORT FILM, OCCASIONALLY FEELS DRAWN-OUT IN ITS MINUTIAE. But Itll-Observed Characterizations, and Yes, Situations, Ring Amousingly True (at Small Subset of the Population), and Vrotsos Displays An Admirable Willingness to Make His Character. Even when you don’h like him, you can certainly relay to him.