Written, directed and staring Lake Bell, the Sundance award
winning comedy In A World… is set in the unusual, rarely seen and often
exclusively an all-boys club world of trailer voice-overs. When great Don Lafontaine
known for the phrase “In a World…” passes (told in a spirited credit montage)
the phrase is retired, that is until the resurrection of the phrase in ad copy
for a new “quad-illogy” – for a quazi-feminist action film called The Amazon
Games.
Making use of (likely) several pals in the alternative
comedy world, Lake Bell rounds out the cast with some greats including Demetri
Martin, Tig Notaro, Nick Offerman, and Ken Marino. Fred Melamed plays Carol’s
(Bell) dad – a rival legend who realizes its time to move on, he’s happy living
with a sexy groupie, a year younger than Carl – and starts training Marino’s
Gustav.
In A World announces the arrival of Lake Bell as alt comic – she’s quite wonderful here as Carol, a geeky women who at 31 is
still in the process of finding herself. Early in act one Carol is asked to
leave home… so the groupie can move in – she barely makes end meet as a
freelance vocal coach – initially teaching Eva Longoria to take a cockney
accent. Carol’s unlikely love interest is Louis – played by Demetri Martin, and
they share very funny and very sweet scene.
That’s the tone Bell strikes – In A World... is often
hilarious, setting up awkward situations that are both funny and in once
instance painful. Carol moves into her sister Dani’s apartment (she’s played by
Michaela Watkins). Living with the always snacking Moe (Corddry), Carol evokes
sister code – asking her to record and collect the voice of a flirtatious
client. Carol ultimately redeems herself and the film has a happy ending even
with a few detours.
The competition for the trailer for The Amazon Games comes down
to three voice over artists: Carol, Gustav, and Sam – but Bell has so much fun
along the way (moments I won’t spoil). In A World succeeds while other
alternative comedies (including those co-written by Marino) often haven’t for
me. Sometimes comedies just simply work – often when they take themselves seriously.
Bell first and foremost does – taking risks. Sure at times it’s a little sitcom
like – but that’s exactly what this is – situational comedy. I await what she
does next as writer/director – Bell, has made a confident, original film.
Screening: Dipson Amherst
