‘Pretty Problems’ Review: A Getaway Goes Quirky

It’s laughter at first sight when two strangers meet within the wan indie “Fairly Issues.”

Lindsay (Britt Rentschler) is clerking at a Los Angeles consignment boutique and sipping a number of the wine the shop affords customers when the florally resplendent Cat (JJ Nolan) strolls in, catching the opposite lady mid-gulp. They smile and giggle and chat, making a connection that rapidly intensifies when Cat begins plying Lindsay with compliments after which almost buys out the shop. Quickly, a besotted Lindsay — her ego and gross sales fee each padded — and her poky husband, Jack (Michael Tennant) are en route for a weekend getaway at Cat’s.

Cat’s home seems to be a sprawling property tucked in Sonoma and, as her boutique spree recommended, she is rich, a contact eccentric and has discovered a brand new distraction in Lindsay. Jack has his doubts concerning the journey, halfheartedly joking to Lindsay “this might be some bizarre, wealthy individual intercourse factor” or possibly one thing scary à la the horror flick “The Purge.” If solely! As a substitute, the weekend turns into an overlong, undercooked comedy of manners about how, sure, certainly the wealthy are completely different; though principally that is about how Lindsay must shake up her life, revitalize her dreary marriage and, you understand, discover herself.

It takes Lindsay virtually the whole lot of this sitcom-y silliness to determine it out (the viewer will get the concept in 10), which doesn’t communicate nicely of her or the filmmakers. Written by Tennant and directed by Kestrin Pantera, “Fairly Issues” takes an indulgently very long time attending to its apparent conclusion, which it does by drawing out Lindsay’s neediness and narcissism whereas making gentle teasing enjoyable of Cat and her husband, their life-style and First-World issues. That Nolan provides the perfect efficiency by far right here undercuts the film’s obvious goals and its comedy — Cat could also be a joke, however she’s the one one which lands.

Fairly Issues
Not rated. Operating time: 1 hour 43 minutes. In theaters and out there to hire or purchase on Apple TV, Google Play and different streaming platforms and pay TV operators.