Ann Arbor's Sundance USA selection gets positive early reaction in Utah
The film comedy is all the buzz after its first screening in Utah. USA Today included it in their buzz films for this year's festival in their Sundance Film Festival roundup this week, and The Sundance Report from GQ says, "Love and Sex (and Phone Sex) in Park City: Forget the doom-and-gloom human dramas at the annual film fest - it's four funny, sexy comedies that have got people talking this week."
Sundance Film Festival director John Cooper, who has seen all the films, calls it "the funniest film at this year's festival." Sundance chose Ann Arbor to screen this comedy because it is expected to be a crowd pleaser—described as a mix of "Sex, Lies and Videotape" and "Bridesmaids," plus Seth Rogen—and the Michgan Theater is the largest venue that shows Sundance premieres, including venues at the Utah festival.
Robert Redford, the founder of Sundance, will provide a filmed welcome announcement to the audience ahead of Thursday's screening, and there will be a post-screening Q&A with director Jamie Travis and writers Katie Anne Naylon and Lauren Anne Miller. Screenwriter Miller is also a lead actress in the film and is married to Seth Rogen.
James Wolk, a native of Farmington Hills and a 2007 graduate of the University of Michigan drama school, is also a featured actor in the film.
For more information on the event, including a link to buy tickets, see the preview article from AnnArbor.com.
Comments
dotdash
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 3:39 p.m.
Okay, I admit that I feel condescended to. I don't want to see the comedic crowd pleaser, I want to see one of the thoughtful independent films Sundance is famous for. I thought it was a bummer that we got Cedar Rapids last year but it made sense because of the AA connection, but now I think we are getting Sundance "light". Is there any way we can request something substantive next year? We are an intelligent population, for god's sake. Send the crowd pleasers to [fill in your least favorite state or city here].
lululand
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 10:43 p.m.
Yes, I agree... but it's still cool that Sundance chooses Ann Arbor and the Michigan Theater.
dotdash
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
I guess you're right, Lulu. Coolidge Corners got "a delightful romp", BAM got a "comedic buddy pic" and Chicago got "Bridesmaid II". Maybe we didn't do so badly after all. Still, it would be nice to get something that won't be out in theatres in a couple months, something out of the ordinary. Maybe Sundance is just not what it used to be...
lululand
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 7:53 p.m.
Ann Arbor is fortunate to be chosen for a Sundance Premiere. Have you seen the list of other cities? Chicago, Boston, Brooklyn, San Francisco. Anyway, half the films at Sundance this year are comedies. <a href="http://www.sundance.org/festival/film-events/sundance-usa/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.sundance.org/festival/film-events/sundance-usa/</a>