Keep the Change

Keep the Change is a dramedy about a New Yorker who is required to attend a program for adults with disabilities in order to stay out of jail and meets another participant who changes his life.

David Cone (Brandon Polansky) first comes off as a somewhat pretentious, entitled man due to his family's wealth. Actually, he seems like that throughout the entirety of the film. However, there are some subtle hints that he is on the autistic spectrum, and as the story unfolds it becomes more apparent.

His co-star, Samantha Elisofon, plays Sarah. Sarah is one of the students/participants at the cent for adults with disabilities. She has a learning disability and autistic. Although that is a couple of her characteristics, her other personality attributes shined through. She likes to sing, perform, flirtatious, and very bold.

The film is a somewhat classic love story, but it is through a new perspective. Most people don't know much about autism or have only certain ideas of it, me included, which is why it's refreshing to see it love and life in a new way.

Keep the Change is a feel-good film with people who don't always have it so easy because not everyone understands them.

It was also the Founders Prize & Best New Narrative Director @ Tribeca Film Festival 2017.

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CREDITS

Writers: Rachel Israel
Director: Rachel Israel
Producers: Summer Shelton, Todd Remis, Kurt Enger
Main Cast: Brandon Polansky, Samantha Elisofon, Nicky Gottlieb, Will Deaver, Jessica Walter, Tibor Feldman
Running Time: 94 minutes

Vacation

As of right now I am on vacation in Hawaii and what do you know, I got to see an advance screening for the movie "Vacation"! :)

I am a millennial but I am somewhat familiar with National Lampoon. But I vaguely remember the films. The one I do remember most of is the Las Vegas one. Probably because they all won a car and that is my goal whenever I go on a Vegas trip, hah.

As soon as I received a pass to attend the screening, I wanted to see the original Vacation. Unfortunately, it is not on Netflix, Amazon Prime (didn't want to do digital rental for $4) or RedBox. So, I didn't get to watch it.

In the trailer, however, Ed Helms's character says "the new Vacation will stand on it's own", meaning even if you haven't seen the original films, it won't be confusing. That statement is true. Because even if you are unaware of the National Lampoon films, you won't miss any vital information.

However, there were multiple references to the original; which I've learned they are called "easter eggs".

The film is Rated-R which is appropriate because although the storyline is basically:

A modern family goes out to vacation in hopes of spending quality time.

The film had a very crude, explicit humor.

Story line was very basic, as you can see above.

Acting was OK. I didn't find Ed Helms nor Christina Applegate to fit the role well, Ed Helms did outperform Applegate (sorry girl, but that's my opinion). The sons of the film, James (Skyler Gisondo) and Kevin (Steele Stebbins), did better. Gisondo actually does seem like an awkward teenage boy going through puberty as well as Kevin being a little troll and having a naughty mouth.

This film is a film not worth going out of your way to see. If it's on TV, sure.. watch it. Otherwise, no.

If you are extremely bored and need to just laugh at raunchy comedy, this would work.

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CREDITS

Writers: John Hughes, Jonathan M. Goldstein, John Francis Daley
Directors: Jonathan M. Goldstein, John Francis Daley
Producers: Chris Bender, David Dobkin
Main Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins
Running Time: 99 minutes