6 Dynamic Laws for Success (in Life, Love & Money) (2017)

6 Dynamic Laws for Success (in Life, Love & Money) (2017). 1h 32m

“I ran across this movie looking for something fun to watch on a Friday night and this film was both a delight and a surprise. There isnu0026#39;t much information about the movie so I went in with very little expectations. The quality of the storytelling and the superb acting make this film stand out.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUlysses T. Lovin (played splendidly by Travis Swartz), a self-described loser, has his evening interrupted by a stranger who promises an incredible opportunity if he can just have some of Lovinu0026#39;s time. Indecisive Lovin leaves the door open a crack both figuratively and literally and the stranger pushes his way into Lovinu0026#39;s home. At the kitchen table, the stranger, Milton Montgomery (Ross Partridge) explains that a 2 million dollar (or is it 2.4 million dollars?) cache of money is hidden somewhere in Lovinu0026#39;s house which heu0026#39;ll split with him if they can look for the treasure together. Lovin heartily agrees, signs a semi-formal contract (handwritten with four simple agreements), and off they go. Except Montgomeryu0026#39;s promise isnu0026#39;t exactly on the up and up and Lovin finds himself in the role of sleuth with flirty Lizzy Duffrey (Lisa King Hawkes) and her down-to-earth sister Sue (Sara Lynch) after the same prize.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs it turns out, the money was stolen by a relative of Montgomeryu0026#39;s and his partner, the lovely Norma Seville (Jennifer Lafleur). Through Miltonu0026#39;s description and flashbacks, we learn that Seville left clues as to where she buried the treasure in a self-help book called u0026quot;6 Dynamic Laws for Success (in Life, Love u0026amp; Money)u0026quot; which was in Miltonu0026#39;s possession when he meets Lovin. (While there is no such book in real life, we do learn all 6 laws over the course of the movie and they sound authentically written.) Seville runs into young Nicholas (played spot-on by Bennett Huhn) who, she hopes, will play her younger brother to help her get over state lines undetected. Those events of the past have implications for what Lovin and the sisters encounter in the present day so weu0026#39;re not left guessing in the end how and why things end up the way they do. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSwartz plays Lovin as a lovable, buffoon who stumbles his way through the investigation sometimes hitting on key clues by accident and other times shooting innocent bystanders because heu0026#39;s never handled a gun before. Partridge, Hawkes, and Lynch play their parts with energy and a wink-and-a-smile playfulness bringing the viewer into the game with them. The movie seems like it shouldnu0026#39;t be working–itu0026#39;s too low budget and the actors seem like theyu0026#39;re somebodyu0026#39;s (very talented) brother or sister-in-law who had too much to drink one evening and were talked into being in a movie. It reminded me of the first time I watched Napoleon Dynamite–I was continually asking myself, u0026quot;What am I watching?u0026quot; while loving every minute of it. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe pseudo film noir cinematography and screenplay actually work in this movie (itu0026#39;s shot in black and white) because it doesnu0026#39;t take itself too seriously and doesnu0026#39;t try too hard. It plays to the noir elements in just the right amount at just the right times. Some reviews compare the filmmaking to something youu0026#39;d see in a Soderberg caper or a Cohen brothers film. Those elements definitely are there (think early Cohen brothers particularly) but make no mistake: Gregory Bayne has a unique style and isnu0026#39;t after mere mimicry. There were enough one-liners and quirky expressions to have me laughing out loud at times but a story that solid enough to keep me engaged throughout.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is a gem. I hope to see much more by Bayne and each of the principle actors. Together they created something fun, unique, and engaging without a ton of money or big-name actors. This is very rare in todays environment.”