ON THROUGH THE NIGHT // A FILM REVIEW OF "DRUNK BUS"

BY MATEO MORENO

There's a kind of comedy that was a staple of the 1980's. A movie that's sweet and funny but has a real beating heart and often sneaks up on you just as you thought you had it all figured out. The kind of film that plays with a movie trope and zigs where it usually zags and it leaves you smiling leaving the theatre. That's what DRUNK BUS gives you, a cheesy smile plastered over your face and a bit of a "Huh" feeling inside, the kind of feeling you have when you realize that a sweet light hearted comedy actually surprised you.

Charlie Tahan plays Michael, a young man who seems to be in an endless rut. He's reeling from a break-up that he's still not completely over (a young woman named Amy, played by Sarah Mezzanotte) and spends his nights driving a "drunk bus," which takes college kids safely from campus into town, so that they can drink and not have to be on the road themselves. He's not happy per say, as he's practically sleepwalking through cleaning up vomit, telling frat boys to quiet down, telling others to stay behind the line and having to listen to his boss call over the CB radio and give him shit (an always reliable Will Forte). His two friends Justin and Kat often ride and keep him company (Tonatiuh, Kara Hayward) but that's practically the only bright side of his day.

After one especially rough night shift, one where he's punched by a drunk frat boy, the company hires Michael a bodyguard named Pineapple (played by tattoo artist Pineapple Tangaroa in his first main acting role). He has a face full of Maori tattoos and multiple piercings to boot. He's a big, intimidating man who turns out to be much more emotionally open than Michael. He takes Michael under his wing, if you will (in addition to protecting him on the bus), teaching him about life and not letting it pass you by. Pineapple also has a knack for befriending almost everyone on the bus, including those who he pulls apart as they're trying to fight. His patience is extraordinary in fact, and they quickly bond, forming an odd couple kind of friendship that just might be the light out of the tunnel that Michael needs.

Although the plot strands start predictable (and some stay that way), much of DRUNK BUS swings into a surprising and heartfelt territory, exploring the pain of trying to fix what seems like an unfixable life and get yourself back on track. Charlie Tahan is dependably solid as our eyes into the world, and he seems to understand that although he's driving the bus, he also understand that the film is truly about the strong supporting cast. Kara Hayward shines as a friend who just might be more and Tonatiuh plays the easy going friend with buckets of confidence. Zach Cherry and Dave Hill add an appropriate amount of weirdness to their small roles, stealing scenes every time they show up. But the true MVP of the film belongs to the bodyguard himself. Pineapple Tangaroa is the heartbeat of the film, with more than enough charm to spare. He's funny, warm, caring and is much of the reason why the film works so well. His friendship with Tahan is also quite touching, pulling on more than a few heartstrings as it goes along. DRUNK BUS is a tender look at the lost years of youth, when you're still figuring it all out, and layers on beautiful coat of paint that truly shines.

GRADE: B+

WRITTEN BY Chris Molinaro DIRECTED BY John Carlucci, Brandon LaGanke STARRING Charlie Tahan, Pineapple Tangaroa, Kara Hayward, Will Forte, Tonatiuh, Zach Cherry, Sarah Mezzanotte, Dave Hill, Martin Pfefferkorn NOW PLAYING IN SELECT THEATRES AND ON DEMAND. FOR MORE INFO: DRUNK BUS

TRIBECA FILM FEST 2014: LOVE IS STRANGE

BY LIZ WHITTEMORE

Relationships come and go. True love relationships are the rarest. Whether a friend, family, or romantic variety, the older you get the fewer they become. LOVE IS STRANGE, the new film by Ira Sachs, is a story of a newly married gay couple. But it’s not so simple. Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) have been together for almost 30 years. With the news of their nuptials, comes the dismissal of George from his teaching job at a Catholic school. Without his income, they are forced to sell their NYC apartment and ask family members to put them up… separately. Faced with the “What now,” Ben sleeps on a bunk bed beneath his reluctant great nephew, Joey (Charlie Tahan). Marisa Tomei and Darren Burrows play Ben’s niece and nephew, respectively, and Joey’s parents, Kate and Elliot. While George stays with their two younger neighbor friends (Cheyenne Jackson and Manny Perez), gay cops from down the hall, who constantly have noisy parties until the wee hours of the morning, occupying his bed… the couch.

The two struggle to remain connected as they are torn apart from one another. Besides lovely performances from each and every actor in this film, we also get to see the dichotomy of the other relationships play out. Elliot and Kate’s relationship hinges on work schedules, parenting styles and the hint of an affair. Joey and his parents deal with the anxieties attributed to raising a teenager and questioning his sexuality. While everyone else is trying to figure things out, it is clear that the most stable relationship is between Ben and George. There is never a moment that this pair doesn’t feel genuine. Lithgow and Molina are tender with one another. They are an example of love and forgiveness.

Sachs does an amazing job with this multiple narrative style. The dialogue is never forced. Another stunning choice is the addition of the music. The predominantly heard Chopin pieces are an elegant underscore of each character. They are almost a character unto themselves. Love is Strange is an lovely story of two people in comfortable bliss. It is a story to be studied and saluted.

VERDICT: SEE IT

Directed By: Ira Sachs Written By: Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias Starring: John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei, Darren Burrows, Charlie Tahan.

BOTTOM LINE: This is a love story for all ages and stages. It will touch you and perhaps make you reexamine your heart.