• Home
  • Longform
    • Defanging the Unthinkable
      more
      View more

      Defanging the Unthinkable

      6 years ago
    • A Fitting, Impressive Goodbye
      more
      View more

      A Fitting, Impressive Goodbye

      6 years ago
    • The Ambivalent, Bittersweet "My Life as a Zucchini"
      more
      View more

      The Ambivalent, Bittersweet "My Life as a Zucchini"

      6 years ago
    • The Complex Morality of "No Country for Old Men"
      more
      View more

      The Complex Morality of "No Country for Old Men"

      6 years ago
  • Interviews
    • A New Way of Telling Love Stories
      more
      View more

      A New Way of Telling Love Stories

      6 years ago
    • Breaking Standards with Julian Rosefeldt of "Manifesto"
      more
      View more

      Breaking Standards with Julian Rosefeldt of "Manifesto"

      6 years ago
    • Indulging Mightily with Alex Ross Perry and the "Golden Exits" Cast
      more
      View more

      Indulging Mightily with Alex Ross Perry and the "Golden Exits" Cast

      6 years ago
    • The Ultimate Meta-Performance: Kate Lyn Sheil on "Kate Plays Christine"
      more
      View more

      The Ultimate Meta-Performance: Kate Lyn Sheil on "Kate Plays Christine"

      6 years ago
  • Critic-At-Large
    • Now Playing: "From Nowhere"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "From Nowhere"

      6 years ago
    • Now Playing: "Fifty Shades Darker"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "Fifty Shades Darker"

      6 years ago
    • Now Playing: "War on Everyone"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "War on Everyone"

      6 years ago
    • Now Playing: "The Salesman"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "The Salesman"

      6 years ago
  • Podcast
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 287: "Kundun"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 287: "Kundun"

      6 years ago
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 286: "Pinocchio"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 286: "Pinocchio"

      6 years ago
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 285: "That Darn Cat"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 285: "That Darn Cat"

      6 years ago
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 284: "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 284: "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement"

      6 years ago
Movie Mezzanine
  • Home
  • Longform
    • Defanging the Unthinkable
      more
      View more

      Defanging the Unthinkable

      6 years ago
    • A Fitting, Impressive Goodbye
      more
      View more

      A Fitting, Impressive Goodbye

      6 years ago
    • The Ambivalent, Bittersweet "My Life as a Zucchini"
      more
      View more

      The Ambivalent, Bittersweet "My Life as a Zucchini"

      6 years ago
    • The Complex Morality of "No Country for Old Men"
      more
      View more

      The Complex Morality of "No Country for Old Men"

      6 years ago
  • Interviews
    • A New Way of Telling Love Stories
      more
      View more

      A New Way of Telling Love Stories

      6 years ago
    • Breaking Standards with Julian Rosefeldt of "Manifesto"
      more
      View more

      Breaking Standards with Julian Rosefeldt of "Manifesto"

      6 years ago
    • Indulging Mightily with Alex Ross Perry and the "Golden Exits" Cast
      more
      View more

      Indulging Mightily with Alex Ross Perry and the "Golden Exits" Cast

      6 years ago
    • The Ultimate Meta-Performance: Kate Lyn Sheil on "Kate Plays Christine"
      more
      View more

      The Ultimate Meta-Performance: Kate Lyn Sheil on "Kate Plays Christine"

      6 years ago
  • Critic-At-Large
    • Now Playing: "From Nowhere"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "From Nowhere"

      6 years ago
    • Now Playing: "Fifty Shades Darker"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "Fifty Shades Darker"

      6 years ago
    • Now Playing: "War on Everyone"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "War on Everyone"

      6 years ago
    • Now Playing: "The Salesman"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "The Salesman"

      6 years ago
  • Podcast
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 287: "Kundun"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 287: "Kundun"

      6 years ago
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 286: "Pinocchio"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 286: "Pinocchio"

      6 years ago
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 285: "That Darn Cat"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 285: "That Darn Cat"

      6 years ago
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 284: "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 284: "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement"

      6 years ago
  • Home
  • Longform
    • Defanging the Unthinkable
      more
      View more

      Defanging the Unthinkable

      6 years ago
    • A Fitting, Impressive Goodbye
      more
      View more

      A Fitting, Impressive Goodbye

      6 years ago
    • The Ambivalent, Bittersweet "My Life as a Zucchini"
      more
      View more

      The Ambivalent, Bittersweet "My Life as a Zucchini"

      6 years ago
    • The Complex Morality of "No Country for Old Men"
      more
      View more

      The Complex Morality of "No Country for Old Men"

      6 years ago
  • Interviews
    • A New Way of Telling Love Stories
      more
      View more

      A New Way of Telling Love Stories

      6 years ago
    • Breaking Standards with Julian Rosefeldt of "Manifesto"
      more
      View more

      Breaking Standards with Julian Rosefeldt of "Manifesto"

      6 years ago
    • Indulging Mightily with Alex Ross Perry and the "Golden Exits" Cast
      more
      View more

      Indulging Mightily with Alex Ross Perry and the "Golden Exits" Cast

      6 years ago
    • The Ultimate Meta-Performance: Kate Lyn Sheil on "Kate Plays Christine"
      more
      View more

      The Ultimate Meta-Performance: Kate Lyn Sheil on "Kate Plays Christine"

      6 years ago
  • Critic-At-Large
    • Now Playing: "From Nowhere"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "From Nowhere"

      6 years ago
    • Now Playing: "Fifty Shades Darker"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "Fifty Shades Darker"

      6 years ago
    • Now Playing: "War on Everyone"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "War on Everyone"

      6 years ago
    • Now Playing: "The Salesman"
      more
      View more

      Now Playing: "The Salesman"

      6 years ago
  • Podcast
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 287: "Kundun"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 287: "Kundun"

      6 years ago
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 286: "Pinocchio"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 286: "Pinocchio"

      6 years ago
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 285: "That Darn Cat"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 285: "That Darn Cat"

      6 years ago
    • Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 284: "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement"
      more
      View more

      Mousterpiece Cinema, Episode 284: "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement"

      6 years ago
Minimalistic <i><b>Stuck</b></i> Tactfully Tackles Modern Romance
  • Reviews

Minimalistic Stuck Tactfully Tackles Modern Romance

  • by Sam Fragoso
  • March 30, 2013
  • 0
  • 2631

Stuck is a rush of pure honesty, a dash of feeling, an unfiltered romantic and sincere respite to the robotic and desensitized films Hollywood continues to churn out. Miraculously, Stuart Acher, in his directorial debut, has managed to tackle 21st century romanticism with none other than real people.

Holly (Madelina Zima) and Guy (Joel David Moore) made the same regrettable decision to get intoxicated and hook up with one another for an emotionally vacuous one-night stand. Alas, their meaningless sex together is compounded the next morning when Guy attempts to drive Holly back to her car, which she left at the bar the night before.

The greatest fear of their one-night stand is quickly realized when the two get stuck in hellish Los Angeles traffic: Gridlock forces Guy and Holly to have actual conversation — one not propelled by lust or sexual desires. And like any discourse between two normal human beings they discuss a myriad of topics, from past relationships to politics to sex to how they got to the place they are now.

Peppered with humor and insight, Stuart’s witty and topical script reveals Guy and Holly’s virtues and vices. Holly is a “serial monogamist” and Guy is a “serial datist.” But Stuck doesn’t judge its characters — it merely takes and presents them at face value.

Guy and Holly are people after all, which is what makes their pratfalls and triumphs so identifiable. Their general confusion with modern romance – texting instead of talking, quick quips instead of intimacy – is our confusion. The angst that comes with dating and finding the “right” person is the same angst many of us have or will experience in our lives.

All of this material comes across as relatable because of the talent in front of the camera. The film heavily relies on the rapport and chemistry between Zima and Moore (which they have in spades). Shot in 10 days for a budget less than $1 million, the two incredibly gifted performers have the ability to organically bounce dialogue off each other. A majority of Stuck takes place in Guy’s car. Occasionally the film is interwoven with flashbacks from the night before (the two flirting, drinking, dancing. etc) and aerial shots of the deathly, immobile L.A. traffic.

But don’t let me fool you. While Zima and Moore are stars in the making (and deserve full-credit for their nuanced work here), this is Stuart Acher’s story. Alongside writing and directing the film with panache, Acher serves as the editor of Stuck. This is auteurism in its most primal form.

However, the film’s greatest feat lies in the creation of these two characters. As Guy and Holly continue to talk, the coldness and natural awkwardness of a one-night stand dissipates. Through these characters the film cuts through our romantic affectations by digging beyond the artifice, and eventually, and perhaps a bit unexpectedly, finds its way into our hearts.

Grade: B+

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related posts

  • Odienator
1
Looking for Solutions <br>in “Where to Invade Next”

Looking for Solutions
in “Where to Invade Next”

7 years ago
  • KTurner
0
Exploring Past and Present <br> in “45 Years”

Exploring Past and Present
in “45 Years”

7 years ago
  • DanSc
0
“Finders Keepers”: A Cult Classic in the Making

“Finders Keepers”: A Cult Classic in the Making

7 years ago

8 thoughts on “Minimalistic Stuck Tactfully Tackles Modern Romance”

  1. James on March 30, 2013 at 6:36 PM said:

    After reading this review, I suspect you don’t approve of one-night stands. Very moralistic of you. :p

    • Sam Fragoso on March 30, 2013 at 7:36 PM said:

      I’m all for one-night stands! Also: how did you extract that from this review?

      • James on March 30, 2013 at 8:01 PM said:

        Quotes from your review: “emotionally vacuous one-night stand” “meaningless sex” among others

        • Sam Fragoso on March 30, 2013 at 10:14 PM said:

          That is essentially what a one-night stand entails.

          • Tom Clift on March 31, 2013 at 5:54 PM said:

            Just because something is emotionally vacuous and meaningless, doesn’t mean it’s bad! 😛

            Really keen to see this flick after your write-up Sam.

          • Sam Fragoso on March 31, 2013 at 6:16 PM said:

            I’m not saying it’s bad! Within the context of the film it’s what brought them together (which is good).

  2. Nansam on April 2, 2013 at 4:10 AM said:

    What an inciteful and interesting review of a Beautiful and complex movie! I saw the OOT opening and loved it. Acher is an amazing talent and so are you for “getting” him…and being able to convey in your own “minimalist” style how charming and worthwhile this piece is! Kudos all around!
    I wish both of you every success that true talent merits!!

  3. Donna Mayes Lutjens on April 2, 2013 at 10:48 PM said:

    Sounds like my kind of film. Looking forward to seeing it!

About Us

Movie Mezzanine is an online publication dedicated to covering the medium that connects us all, one film at a time. With writers stationed around the globe, we offer a uniquely diverse perspective on cinema, both old and new. To learn more about us, go here.

Spotlight

Putting the Geek to the Plow

Cleantalk Pixel