Pretty Problems (2022)

Pretty Problems (2022). Pretty Problems: Directed by Kestrin Pantera. With Britt Rentschler, Michael Tennant, J.J. Nolan, Graham Outerbridge. Jack and Lindsay are invited on a getaway trip with affluent strangers: down the rabbit hole, and into the most unhinged weekend of their lives. Can their relationship survive?

“Greetings again from the darkness. I have always assumed the familiar phrase u0026quot;green with envyu0026quot; was somehow related to green being the color most associated with money. Director Kestrin Panterau0026#39;s latest film does nothing but reinforce this. The script and story come from co-writers Britt Rentschler, Michael Tennant, and Charlotte Ubben, each who also play a key character in the film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWe first meet married couple Lindsay (Ms. Rentschler) and Jack (Mr. Tennant) as they finish up u0026quot;good tryu0026quot; morning sex before heading off to work. Their lack of enthusiasm for intimacy is matched by the rest of their daily lives. She is a clerk at u0026quot;Gift of Garbu0026quot;, assisting others with selecting outfits, all while silently dreaming of designing her own fashions and running her own place. Jack (Mr. Tennant) is in an even less desirable spot. On probation stemming from an assault, he has been disbarred and can no longer practice law. He now sells solar energy door-to-door.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe set-up gets more interesting when oddball store client Cat (a terrific JJ Nolan) befriends Lindsay with some textbook positive image philosophy, and then invites u0026#39;Linzu0026#39; and Jack to spend a weekend at her place in Sonoma. Jack finds the idea of spending the weekend with people they barely know to be unfathomable, yet relents when Lindsay persuades him and says they need new friends and experiences.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhen they arrive, both Lindsay and Jack are stunned at the beauty and size of the estate. He references PURGE and calls it u0026quot;a murder houseu0026quot;, while she is anxious to see how the other half lives. Another surprise greets them when it turns out to be Catu0026#39;s birthday weekend, and itu0026#39;s to be shared with Catu0026#39;s husband Matt (Graham Outerbridge), and their friends Kerry (Alex Klein) and Carrie (Charlotte Ubben) … yes Kerry and Carrie. Also present for the weekend are Catu0026#39;s and Mattu0026#39;s servants, Dan (Clayton Froning) and Becca (Katarina Hughes) … along with enough drugs and alcohol to supply a Los Angeles rave.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNo cell or internet service and the bizarre personalities of these ultra-rich friends has us believing Jacku0026#39;s initial assessment could be spot on. The constantly vaping Cat buddies up to u0026#39;Linzu0026#39;, while the drugs and booze lead to behavior that allows us to understand no amount of money leads to happiness – even if the parties can get pretty wild and the houses are spectacular. Yet another surprise unfolds thanks to the presence of Dan, the possessor of an enviable nickname. In other words, the escapist fun bears a price to pay, and it puts definite strain on the relationship between Lindsay and Jack.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eKeeping up with the Joneses is rarely an admirable direction to take, and here a certain sadness permeates most scenes of indulgence. The newcomers experience feelings of inadequacy and respond quite differently – Jack understands they donu0026#39;t fit in and simply wants to leave, while Lindsay also sees they donu0026#39;t fit in, but is drawn to the u0026quot;betteru0026quot; life and the idea of wallowing in affluence. This could have been biting satire were it a bit more clever. Instead, we are left watching as unhappiness takes shape across multiple economic sectors. The poor are overtaken by envy, while the rich are desperate to feel. Director Panterau0026#39;s film follows the template for a successful low budget film festival flick, and in fact, won an Audience Award at SXSW.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOpens in theaters October 7, 2022.”