Double Feature: A Perfect Pairing (2022) & Trust (2021)

A Perfect Pairing (2022)

Director: Stuart McDonald

Cast: Victoria Justice, Adam Demos, Luca Asta Sardelis, Samantha Cain, Craig Horner, Lucy Durack, Antonio Alvarez

It follows a hard-driving LA wine-company executive who travels to an Australian sheep station to land a major client and there she ends up working as a ranch hand and sparking with a rugged local. – IMDB

The latest Netflix romantic comedy released pairs up Afterlife of the Party (review) Victoria Justice and the Sex/Life actor Adam Demos as they meet on a sheep station, one trying to use her hard work to prove her capabilities as a self-starter and win a contract from a wine company executive while also sparking a connection with the “boss cocky” as he teaches her the ins and outs. Suffice to say at this point, romantic comedies are rather rinse and repeat and for the most part with Netflix rom-coms, they haven’t really been too groundbreaking. A Perfect Pairing doesn’t escape the rom-com formula or deliver anything too special. What does give it a fun vibe is that the chemistry between the main leads are pretty good overall and the setting with the beautiful scenery of the Australian countryside.

With most rom-coms nowadays, the selling point is the chemistry that the main leads deliver. In this case, A Perfect Pairing is pretty good. Adam Demos and Victoria Justice do work rather well together in their respective roles and the progression of everything is pretty fun especially when you have a city girl thrust into a foreign rural setting, learning something from the start. The fun isn’t only with them but also the co-workers that she encounters there who go from doubting her to accepting her gradually in their own way. The little bickering and conversations are pretty good since there is a variety of people there. It makes Victoria Justice’s character’s initial goal to bag a deal for her little wine distribution company fall into the background. Like I said, that sort of thing isn’t exactly unseen, in fact its a plot point for many rom-coms for the main female lead to head out to achieve something with extreme measures to eventually realize that its not the point. Only difference here is that hers is very clear right from the start and in this scenario, Adam Demos’ character is the one with a bigger secret to hide (which actually didn’t feel like it was such a big secret overall and the reveal causing such big reactions).

Overall, A Perfect Pairing isn’t anything too special in terms of plot points or execution. However, where it works best is capturing the beautiful Australian vineyards and rural setting, adding in that bit of fun as Victoria Justice’s character gets dirty as a farm hand and the pretty decent chemistry between the two. In reality, Victoria Justice has proven time and time again that she does capture her roles pretty good.

Trust (2021)

Director (and co-writer): Brian DeCubellis

Cast: Victoria Justice, Matthew Daddario, Katherine McNamara, Lucien Laviscount, Ronny Chieng, Lindsey Broad

In this sexy and twisty ride, New York gallery owner Brooke and her husband Owen each face exceptional temptations, with most unexpected results. – IMDB

Trust is an erotic romance drama which is based on Kristen Lazarian, one of the co-screenplay writer’s play Push. I’m always a little skeptical when I start any film that sells itself as an erotic and romantic film. Most of the time, it lacks a lot of those elements and just turns into a really soapy sort of deal. Trust is a rather middling experience. There are some really good execution plot points that help make it feel pretty unique to watch. Its like a semi-Shadowhunters reunion with Katharine McNamara and Matthew Daddorio in bigger roles and then there’s Victoria Justice which I’ve been catching up on a lot of her films, much like the Season 2 of Emily in Paris actor, Lucien Laviscount. While the plot itself does try to seem more clever than it really is, it actually does work through the whole “trust” element in relationships pretty good. The ending is a bit silly but the overall feeling of the film does have a decent use of these two people who are encountered by their own temptations and emotions as they have their own experiences.

Taking a look at the execution, Trust uses a non-linear format to shed light on unveiling the story here from both the main characters Brooke (Victoria Justice) and Owen (Matthew Daddario) side of the story, filling in the pieces as it becomes relevant. Its one of the stand-out elements of this film as it keeps the mystery in place and helps keep up those questionable trust moments but also making the reveals gradually, sometimes being more effective than others. There is no doubt that the film itself takes up a rather soapy drama tone especially when dealing with a relationship square as there are 4 parties involved and the two mains having their own temptation: Owen with a girl at the bar Amy (Katharine McNamara) and Brooke with the artist that she represents Ansgar (Lucien Laviscount).

That leads to the characters themselves. The cast itself is rather small but is pretty sufficient for a story like this one that keeps it rather simple on the surface but when adding in the elements of trust between the characters, it does pull a few nice tricks out of the hat. That has to do with how these characters are portrayed as they develop throughout the film and does add a nice element of how trust should be portrayed and questions the element of trust effectively in its scenarios on both sides. The roles themselves are pretty much on the surface but then the story itself doesn’t really need too much depth since its more about the situation than the characters themselves.

To be fair, Trust isn’t anything to call home about and the ending itself seems a little flimsy. There’s a little play on details about trust and how Brooke and Owen will move forward after this all settles down. Its plays out thinking its more clever than it actually is, however, there is some decent entertainment here. I can’t say that its very romantic or erotic in that regard but there are definitely some moments that work relatively well that regard. For sure, its not a film for everyone and some moments and dialogue even feel a little cringeworthy but somehow, maybe the clever execution or how the story is plotted out that it works for me to a certain extent.

Afterlife of the Party (2021)

Afterlife of the Party (2021)

Director: Stephen Herek

Cast: Victoria Justice, Midori Francis, Robyn Scott, Adam Garcia, Timothy Renouf, Gloria Garcia, Spencer Sutherland, Kiroshan Naidoo

A social butterfly who dies during her birthday week is given a second chance to right her wrongs on Earth. – IMDB

Afterlife of the Party is a supernatural comedy film. There’s a certain trajectory for these films which focus mostly on the person who has lost their life trying to redeem themselves. In this case, its about Cassie (Victoria Justice) who is stuck in the in-between with a deadline to resolve three issues with three people on her list: her dad, her mom and her best friend, as they all cope with her death as it approaches its one year anniversary, each with their own sets of skeletons in the closet. With the help of her “guardian angel” almost like an emotional support, she starts to figure out how to connect with the living and move forward through her observations to figure out how to help them and herself to move on before the window of opportunity to amend her ways passes.

The journey for Cassie is one that is expected but feels less heavy-handed and fairly natural in Victoria Justice’s portrayal of her growth as it shifts from her self-centred party girl living self to the after death version which slowly starts to face up to the hard things and making this journey about helping them than about herself moving on. In that sense, the story does hit some good heartwarming notes as she does connect and resolve those feelings bit by bit. Victoria Justice fits into this role incredibly well and a lot of what makes this film fun to watch is her dynamic along with her best friend’s Lily played by Midori Francis. Midori Francis did a great job when she was leading the Netflix series Dash & Lily and it carries forward here although an older but still more closed character. However, the contrast of these two characters does keep them relatively grounded especially as Cassie tries to pull together Lisa and her little crush with the neighbor Max (Timothy Renouf). Those moments are definitely the more comedic moments. Much like the “guardian angel” role, Val played by Robyn Scott which is absolutely charming and fun to have around, it gives the film an overall fun vibe.

On the other hand, Cassie’s face-up to her dad (Adam Garcia) and her mom (Gloria Garcia) individually brings up a whole other element. The mom bits actually don’t pull the heartstrings as much as the connection she has with her sister, which ends up being a nice little surprise. While her relationship with her father which gets a good idea of where they stand from the beginning of the film actually rounds it up in a fairly heartwarming manner.

Overall, Afterlife of the Party is a pretty simple premise and relatively formulaic. However, it does feel better executed as its more natural trajectory and the characters are more appealing to watch. As much as Cassie feels like she isn’t great in the first impressions, she still has moments that do redeem herself throughout which feels well-transitioned and comfortable to watch. Plus, the cast all around is fun overall and does a decent job which makes this film a pretty entertaining.

The First Time (2012)

The past week or so, I’m been in kind of a rut.  Why? I guess it primarily comes from stress but its also the fact that I’m highly competitive and I haven’t really had much inspiration for this Nanowrimo so everyday passes by and I write like 300 words on the bus and stop.  Its hard to write a romance and be stressed at the same time.  I usually don’t go seeking out anything romantic but I figured what better time to watch a teen movie, my mind thinks about Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and how that was quite quirky and cute. Still, it seems recently, I always dive back into older movies for this sort of fun, cute teen romance thing but The First Time has caught my eye since it hit Netflix so I decided to check that out.

Director & writer: Jonathan Kasdan

Cast: Dylan O’Brien, Britt Robertson, Craig Roberts, James Frecheville, Victoria Justice, Lamarcus Tinker, Joshua Malina, Christine Taylor, Maggie Elizabeth Jones

Aubrey (Britt Robertson) and Dave (Dylan O’Brien) meet under awkward circumstances outside of a crazy party that they were both dragged two for different reasons.  As they sat down to know each other, they feel more and more attracted to each other. However, Dave is pining over this beautiful girl Jane (Victoria Justice) who only treats him like a good friend that she can talk to about everything and Aubrey is dating Ronny (James Frecheville) an older emo sort of rock band guy. As their feelings take a hold over them, they experience an eventful weekend together.

This is how they started: meeting in an back alley of a party when she startles him as he’s trying to figure out how to tell the girl of his dreams how he feels.  The First Time is sweet, cute and so magnetic to watch.  Its been a few days that I’ve seen it and I can’t get it out of my mind.  In a certain way, its real but not sure how high school real it is.  Love is something that changes to everyone so this sort of movie probably won’t appeal to everyone especially if your romantic experiences are different.  For me, high school felt like how the character Dave was: unrequited love. His was a girl of course while I had this guy that wasn’t all that great (now I know) but we were good friends but essentially it was unrequited love.

At the same time, I could relate to Aubrey because man, was it scary to think about stepping into the world and really have enough of this high school thing, even if I wasn’t sure what I really wanted to do.  Although it didn’t happen in high school but man, what the hell is love was what I thought back then also, up to college, even after having short relationships and lets not even talk about elusive “the first time.” But thats what makes this movie fantastic because regardless if it all happened over a weekend and whether it was in high school, the time frame doesn’t matter.  Its about the feelings this movie invokes making it feel real.

Although, there’s this subtle awkwardness that shows up between them, which is normal when you meet this guy randomly for such a short time, Aubrey and Dave, portrayed by Britt Robertson and Dylan O’Brien, have this amazing chemistry.  Teen romances are simple and that gives this extra points because thats what being in high school should be.  Thats what makes it great also.  Nothing in the romance has to be overly complicated especially in chance meetings like this, where emotions take the best of you.  I’m going off on a tangent but thats really to support why I think chemistry is the most important in these sort of movies.  Man, do they pull it off? When the movie ended, and perfectly where it should in my opinion, I actually connected with Dave and Aubrey so much that I wanted to know whats next. I was kind of all touched and getting misty by the last few parts when they were talking about meeting that right person and all that.

There’s so much to love about The First Time: the great chemistry, the cheesy moments (because you know they have it), the awkwardness, taking chances, being young and in love, being passionate.  Just a mountain of that surge of emotions that there is.  Its smart, cute, sweet and the connection is so real and so honest.  The characters are lovable.  Its done with so much awesomeness and I totally hope that you give this a chance. There’s going be cliches, but you know what, Britt Robertson and Dylan O’Brien will make you fall in love right along with them (at least I know I did).

Have you seen The First Time?

A Little Christmas Medley…

Music is my source to make me happy.  This week has been a tough one and it ended particularly hard.

This morning, I saw this video from some Youtube independent artists.  Both Sam Tsui and Kurt Schneider I follow for the past two years or so and they put out beautiful covers.  Recently this year, Kurt collaborated with Victoria Justice (she starred in recent Halloween flick Fun Size) and Max Schneider to make fun medleys.  They have done two before.  One was for Bruno Mars Medley and the second one is Maroon 5 medley. Both are really fun.

This one is their newest addition called Holiday Medley.  Its pretty awesome! I love it a lot and it makes me extremely happy to hear it!

Hopefully, this will put a smile on your face! Enjoy!