2012
Directed By Todd Berger
Starring: Rachel Boston, Laura Adkin, Kevin M Brennan, David
Cross, America Ferrera and Julia Stiles
Sometimes a movie sits in your Netflix queue for months if
not years and you have no clue how it got there. You have no idea who if anyone
recommended this piece of entertainment. Who can you blame for wasting your
time if you decide to watch it and it sucks? The longer a movie or a show sits
unwatched the more it feels like homework. The more it becomes a chore.
Something you know you need to do, something you know you might enjoy but for
some reason it becomes more and more difficult to take the time to sit down and
watch this enigmatic beast. The weird
thing is 9 times out of 10 it ends up being something I really enjoy. So was the case with Todd Bergers 2012 comedy
It’s a Disaster. This is a film that has
been taunting me from my queue for the last 6 months or so. I’m glad to say
that I finally overcame my Netflix procrastination and watched it last night. Short version if this movie is in your queue
watch it, if it’s not in your queue put it in there.
The plot for It’s a Disaster is pretty straight forward,
four couples meet for a Sunday brunch
that is promptly interrupted by the news that the world might be coming to an
end. This film feels somewhat like a play in that all the action of the film is
centered in one small location. Not that the film doesn’t feel cinematic but
that the storytelling is focused on a very small group of people while the
world is possibly falling apart. The
film is at its core a comedy about relationships, about the lies we tell each
other and ourselves. This is a movie with a high concept that is very much
grounded in the minutia of dating and marriage. Certain lines of dialogue and
character interactions rang so true and close to home that my wife and I
exchanged several knowing glances during the movie.
The writing and performances are overall pretty damn good. I
can even say a certain actor that may have been a deterrent from my initial viewing
turned in a performance that will be the reason I rewatch this one. The film
has a few twists and surprises that caught me off guard. I wasn’t looking for
them but I will say that the less you know about this one the better. I was reminded of Stacy Titles 1995 under seen
film The Last Supper when watching IAD. If you liked that film I really think
you should give this one a chance. OK using an almost 20 year old movie that
not very many people saw as a selling point probably wasn’t the best choice. I
just want to stress that despite the end of the world premise this film has
more in common with Love Actually than This Is The End.
As you already know It’s a Disaster is currently streaming
on Netflix but it is also available on Hulu Plus Amazon, iTunes and Vudu