Bread and Butter (2014)

Best movie of this year hands down!

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The actors certainly put their backs into it, but it ain't funny and it doesn't entertain.

I really enjoyed this movie. Thought the shooting was great. The characters I thought were all portrayed excellent. Amelia was a great character, though she confused me at many turns. The wellness coach was hysterical and always brought a smile to my face while on screen. Leonard was portrayed well as an eccentric character with a bit of a dickish streak. The cock blocking of Daniel at the bar was a tantamount to that. Daniel was portrayed very well. I could see how another actor could play him like a "Sheldon Cooper" or other geeky type but this portrayal was very original. I guess the only reason I didn't give it a 10 was because of some gaps in the story. I also was a bit infuriated she kept seeing that loser Leonard and gave him, honestly, the most bizarre hummer I have seen any flick. Then to top it off didn't give Daniel any play, even though he was a better candidate. Typical. I really wish Dr. Wellburn would(who could hear through the walls)of shouted out to Amelia to do him already , and end with Daniel and Amelia doing it on the couch. Then I wouldn't have felt ticked off for Daniels character.

I loved the characters in this film. I rooted for Amelia (Christine Weatherup) throughout - such a relatable, charming and real portrayal of a woman struggling to find herself. The character Daniel (Bobby Moynihan) was laugh-out-loud funny while also gaining the heartfelt empathy of the entire audience. And life coach Dr. Wellburn (Eric Lange) made me smile every time he was on screen. The film was beautifully shot - I enjoyed soaking in the locations as the story unfolded. Now - for the spoiler alerts (not all of these are spoilers, but I do mention plot points...). There were certain elements that left me a bit confused: why did Amelia set a timer when she masturbated? Was she masturbating because she was horny, or because she was trying to experience her very first orgasm (which perhaps wasn't achieved because she kept getting interrupted)? What was the significance of the green matchbox car? But I loved the "anti-rom-com" moral of the story: that a woman doesn't necessarily need to find a man to have a happy ending. Congratulations to the cast and crew!

If "Bread and Butter" is playing at a film festival near you, or it picks up a distributor as it hopes to do, then by all means seek it out. Seen at The Phoenix Film Festival, it's a wonderful take on a modern search for a (very late blooming) love life for it's leading lady. Perfectly cast, written, and filmed - and the soundtrack is fantastic, you'll be rooting for her even if neither of her first dating partners are the one for her. Still, she learns and you love her for it. Wonderfully so, no character here is black or white, good or bad, right or wrong - just like all of us, and that's what makes this film ring true. All of her problems are not nearly solved by the film's end, but you leave seeing her better equipped to face and eager to try all that life has to offer. Word of advice - don't see this with your mother. In lieu of a real boyfriend our heroine here makes ample use of the next best thing, but cinematically in a very discrete way.