Written and directed by Blake Rice, while rehearsing asking out the girl of his dreams, a lonely and highly allergic Circuit-Shack employee gets stung in the throat by a hornet. Starring: Michael Gandolfini, Olivia Nikkanen, Zina Louhaichy and Matt Van Orden.
Awkwardness is a powerful comedic and dramatic tool when it’s used in the right way to hit our sympathy bones and that’s what Blake Rice does with Tea. It opens up with a big note of sadness and resignation but there’s also a sliver of hope to Michael Gandolfini’s hopeless romantic lead. Gandolfini brings the exact personality you want to this character, he’s a little hapless but sweet and earnest, extremely easy to get invested in quickly.
Then what follows is a mix of strong sense of humour and a little bit of chaos. All of which is stirred together by the chemistry between Gandolfini and Olivia Nikkanen. The two of them have something that’s utterly natural, not necessarily romantic, which is a clever touch, and inherently relatable. There’s just a classically human quality to it, quick to judge a situation but also quick to help. There’s a lot of personality at work in Tea and the combination of those two really bring that to life with a great energy.
Something that’s supported by Rice’s directorial style which has a nostalgic feel but also a modern edge to it. While the editing work can be somewhat abrupt, it otherwise hits the notes of a more stylish romcom. It embraces that messy side thematically, but the aesthetic is nice and clean. There’s also a really strong flow to it, the progression is done very well and makes for a satisfying dozen minutes.
Tea is a sweet and surprisingly charming short film. Taking some of the classic elements of romcoms and coming of age flicks and creating something original yet familiar. It’s filled with personality, the directorial style is strong and it has a great colouring. As well as being brought to life by a superb pairing in Michael Gandolfini and Olivia Nikkanen, who create characters you could happily keep watching for a full feature.
FilmCarnage.com 