I went into this expecting it to be a "Hell in a handbasket" film--those have intentionally simple set-ups, with usually (darkly) comedic plots propelled by events gradually spiraling more and more out of control until characters have a complete disaster on their hands.
That's not what this is, though. This is more of a quaint, somewhat chick-flicky buddy film. They seemed to be shooting for a middle-age-yuppie-parents-oriented John Hughes style flick, a la the Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, 16 Candles, etc. It doesn't take much imagination to realize this. Characters regularly reference 16 Candles.
I found a few scenes laugh-out-loud funny, but that's not necessarily what they were shooting for here anyway. They're just as often trying to be poignant or simply "cute"--the latter most consistently hitting its target.
Unfortunately, overall, Fun Mom Dinner winds up falling a bit flat, unable to sustain or even build any significant momentum. It too often displays the relative laziness of its title. It's a short film, but some scenes drag--the marijuana dispensary bit is one of the worst offenders.
I wouldn't say it's not worth watching, but lower your expectations--bury the bar in the ground after all. If you approach it as a sketchy, cute dramedy, though one with a character or two who can be on the annoying side as often as not, it has some assets.
That's not what this is, though. This is more of a quaint, somewhat chick-flicky buddy film. They seemed to be shooting for a middle-age-yuppie-parents-oriented John Hughes style flick, a la the Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, 16 Candles, etc. It doesn't take much imagination to realize this. Characters regularly reference 16 Candles.
I found a few scenes laugh-out-loud funny, but that's not necessarily what they were shooting for here anyway. They're just as often trying to be poignant or simply "cute"--the latter most consistently hitting its target.
Unfortunately, overall, Fun Mom Dinner winds up falling a bit flat, unable to sustain or even build any significant momentum. It too often displays the relative laziness of its title. It's a short film, but some scenes drag--the marijuana dispensary bit is one of the worst offenders.
I wouldn't say it's not worth watching, but lower your expectations--bury the bar in the ground after all. If you approach it as a sketchy, cute dramedy, though one with a character or two who can be on the annoying side as often as not, it has some assets.