Take Care

Courtesy of Entertainment One, Phase 4 Films

The world of independent film is a great space for minority voices. POCs and women are often allowed to tell their own stories, and get more attention for them, than in the studio system, which relies on box office returns to fuel investments. While director Liz Tuccillo has the advantage of having been backed on past projects, her debut directorial venture doesn’t have much buzz or recognition. This could be because of its independent nature or more simply because the film itself underwhelms.

The set-up is cute, as it follows an injured woman calling on her ex-boyfriend to help her recuperate following an accident. The problem with this set-up is that it needn’t exist. The only reason she calls on him is because she detests her sister, who I actually found to be underwhelming of an antagonist, and not a horrible person to live with under the circumstances. The main character (Bibb) is just too haughty and mean to see that her sister cares about her. Instead she makes her ex-boyfriend, a man who she cared for when he had cancer, and who she hasn’t seen in two years, take care of her out of blackmail.

I’m not sure why we are rooting for them as a couple, especially when her ex has a new girlfriend, one that he seems to care about. He even tries to connect with his new girlfriend by having her meet his parents, and tells her her jealousy issues are ridiculous. So again, why are we rooting for this couple to get back together? They’re simply being selfish. If they were interesting characters, it might be worth it, but their only quirks or characteristics come from one’s love of “Law and Order”, and the other’s ability to know all voice-over actors without checking.

While I enjoyed some of the interplay between Bibb and Sadoski, it wasn’t enough to warrant this film. Adding some character development would have made the ending at least understandable, but we end with two selfish people, who have learned nothing, and get what they want. What a surprise!