This Sci-Fi Rom Com is literally out of this world. Director Michael Lukk Litwak goes retro-future inspired by When Harry Met Sally with clever comedic dialogue and imaginative visuals. He has two star crossed lovers meet by accident hopping planets over time and space. Litwak agrees he was also influenced by other classic films like The Fifth Element and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Here, Molli (Zosia Mamet – Madame Web, TV’s Girls ) and Max (Aristotle Athari – SNL,) have an on-again, off-again, interplanetary relationship repeatedly over 12 years, 4 planets, and 3 dimensions. There are inferences to changes in their attitudes and lifestyle including joining a progressive cult, and Max becoming famous for expertly controlling bots in a battle game and there’s more.
Squadron) and shorts, but this is his first feature film. His style is to build and shoot miniatures and place his characters in alternate worlds combining old with new techniques. Litwak is able to place them in what look like enormous spacial vistas. He uses tiny models of detailed cityscapes lit up to create futuristic settings. Athari was impressed with how Litwak shot he and Mamet to look like they fit right in joking that he’s just not that small.
Watch our interview with Littwak and Athari at SXSW 2023 to find out more about why and how they created their aura of imagination.
There is a lot of fast dialogue as they create a relationship, break up, and spend the rest of the movie accidentally finding their way back together again. Mamet and Athari play well off each other with good chemistry and comedic timing. Sometimes the dialogue goes by so fast, you may not catch it all, but, as the film goes on, you pick up on it and the characters and the visuals win you over.
Litwak introduces all kind of crazy characters and societal issues, including a Trump-esque villain the writer/director has named “Turtboschmuck.” Molly and Max go head-to-head over a sex cult and even a space-age game much like pickleball. The Jetson style flying cars against planetary cityscapes are very imaginative for a first feature on a comparatively tiny budget.
Yes, this is a story you’ve seen many times before, but not in this kind of creative interplanetary setting. It’s cute, thought-provoking, and entertaining and an auspicious start for a Litwak’s first feature. We look forward to see what world his imagination will take us to next.
Level 33 Entertainment 1 hour 33 minutes. NR
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