Written and directed by Andrew J. Lee, at a meet-the-parents-dinner, a man goes to outrageous lengths to save his prized guacamole from browning while his girlfriend processes the shocking revelation that her “dead” family dog is still alive. Starring: Brian Childers, Jon Moon, Diana Garle and Melaine Bennett.
As soon as you enter the world of Guacamania! you’re hit with a really strong, classically comedic vibe. The visual is purposefully colourful and there’s a very bright energy. Then as it evolves you see that’s also coming from the world of anime and Asian action cinema. There’s a great blend of energies and genres going into creating an imaginative, playful and nicely melodramatic atmosphere. The directorial style really embraces all the different elements, creating something that’s the best of both worlds between sitcom and sketch comedy, and anime TV shows.
Andrew J. Lee doesn’t hold anything back, allowing all the different factors of Guacamania! to be loud, colourful and lively. The writing has a good sense of humour and a light-hearted intensity, it builds up a lot of stress and conflict but it’s never truly tense, it’s funny and has a good snowballing feel to the progression of the story. It’s one of those great concepts that’s simple but there’s a lot going on, it’s revolving around this one satisfyingly ridiculous key plot point in a very fun way.
There’s a great chaotic feel to it, especially with the editing work (also by Lee), which helps to speed up the pacing. The chaos undoubtedly also needs to be credited to the excellent performances. This charming quartet all clearly got the assignment because they perfectly tap into that kind of silly yet convincing tone, to have an outlandish argument while filling it with comedy. Jon Moon is the heart of the intensity, Mitch’s deep concern for his guacamole and the lengths he’s willing to go to, to protect it, almost feel like they were pulled out of a Shaw Brothers film.
Moon has so much personality to bring to the table, and yet all of it is wrapped within his passion for guacamole, which actually makes it quite impressive. Diana Garle is great as his girlfriend, the character feels very familiar, and she adds plenty of emotion and drama into the mix. Brian Childers and Melaine Bennett then expand the comedy as her parents, they’ve got some of the best lines in Guacamania! because they add a touch of sarcasm and apathy. They create this really fun attitude of ‘you’re too old for us to keep babying you’ and decide to just let the chips fall where they may. It’s a fantastic combination of actors, who all have something different to add.
Guacamania! is a great time, it’s creative, imaginative, lively and funny. It throws back to a lot of different genres, but that strong influence of anime provides a big personality. It’s bursting with energy, constantly on the move and the story’s continually digging the hole deeper of this chaotic evening which is fun to watch. The effects work is great, there’s a really enjoyable action vein to it, the performances are right on the money with the comedy and it’s perfectly over the top.
FilmCarnage.com 