SDIFF 2020: Eat Wheaties!
sdiff 2020In a year of extreme hit or miss comedies, Scott Abramovitch’s Eat Wheaties! stands tall as a legitimately bright spot of the genre in 2020. The main focus of the film, Sid Straw (Tony Hale), is going through a bit of a midlife crisis. Not only is his dating and social life turbulent, but Sid's attempts to reach out to Elizabeth Banks – who he knew from college – have been met with little results. No one around Sid believes that he was actually friends with the actor and as his life falls further and further apart, Sid is forced to take action ahead of his college reunion.
If there is one thing to stand out within Eat Wheaties! then it is the incredible comedic ensemble that this film builds. In the leading role, Tony Hale might just be giving one of the best comedic performances of his filmography. The character of Sid is the perfect mixture of quirky and tragic; it is equally easy to laugh at his goofiness yet also connect with his deeper emotions, which is the shining point of Hale's performance. Hale shows an incredible amount of craft and understanding in his performance, being able to highlight his bizarre character traits whilst never going too far, making the audience not be able to relate to the character or view him in a serious light. Surrounding Hale lies an incredible cast of supporting performers, including the likes of Paul Walter Hauser, Elisha Cuthbert, Lamorne Morris, and Robbie Amell. Though none of these performances are revolutionary for these actors or push beyond what they have proven competent of before, the chemistry and genuine comedic skill is undeniable.
The screenplay, also from Scott Abramovitch and based on a book from Michael Kun, also is a clear standout. How the film effortlessly blends emotion and smart comedy speaks both to its ability as a screenplay and adaptation. Comedies and adaptations both often suffer from uneven screenplays that struggle to fully connect their ideas to audiences, yet Eat Wheaties! absolutely succeeds both in crafting comedy that is actually funny and translating the story from the book into a cinematic experience that elevates the material and flows naturally as a film.
With an emotionally satisfying conclusion, Eat Wheaties! is a worthwhile viewing experience that is legitimately enjoyable. The comedy is actually funny and the film has an emotional backbone that gives the project an overall weight. Especially for those who are tired of cheap comedies and want to see one of legitimate craft, keep an eye out for Eat Wheaties! as it easily was one of the most enjoyable viewing experiences of the year so far.
