The Competition (2018)

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Touches You

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

Of all of the zany ideas for Hollywood romantic comedies, this one has to be one of the strangest. A couple, Calvin and Lauren, falls in love, but the relationship is built around an infidelity competition. The couple will test their best friends who will be seduced by a stranger. If the majority of the guinea pigs reject the seduction and remain faithful, then Calvin and Lauren will remain permanently in their relationship. But if the test subjects succumb to their lust, then the Calvin-Lauren relationship will end in six months. What a bummer of a compact for an interpersonal relationship?After setting out this inane premise, the filmmakers do not even execute it very well. The comedy should have been based on the five competitions where the five couples are tested. But as we approached the "last" test for Calvin's friend Jacob, I had only counted three previous tests that had taken place. Either the filmmakers goofed and forgot one of the five tests...or I lost interest somewhere along the way...or both!The film had a spark of potential because the two leads had some chemistry at those rare moments when they were not obsessing on their competition. Still, Chris Klein overacted his role of Calvin, while Thora Birch underacted her interpretation of Lauren. It was as if Klein was back in one of his "American Pie" farces, while Birch was recycling her moody daughter character in "American Beauty."There is earlier film called "The Competition" from 1980, which is about the rivalry of two concert pianists. That film involves a real competition, it includes some light-hearted moments, and it is still an eminently watchable film today. Unfortunately, the more recent competition film included some lovely footage of Portland, Oregon, but never rose to the level of either a memorable romance or a comedy.

The script is terrible, hair is distractingly bad, bad over acting. The only redeeming quality is the cinematography.

If this film played a part in a meal, it would be a palate cleanser. It's simple, it's clean. It's not very filling, It's a break from the fatty stuff, the sweet stuff, and the heavy stuff.I enjoyed trying to guess where the movie was shot - Oregon, I think. Never been there, don't know what it is like. But the Voodoo Doughnuts were a clue and Portland is mentioned in the dialogue. So, Oregon it could be. Beautiful, different, and looks very nice - for the non-tourist, just someone watching actors in this setting. The dialogue is relatively uninspired (until the end, when Chris Klein has a nice monologue). The choices of the actors are inspired, though - they play 'normal' people. For once, the female lawyer does not have a sleek suit with a shirt that highlights her cleavage. Clare Coffee plays that lawyer. Her sister is the scientist, one of the central characters. Thora Burch plays that scientist. Burch can easily look like she's 14 years old, but in this film, she simply looks a little weary, a lot cynical, and more likely to frown than smile. For once, a scientist seems more like an average person and not made to look like a lab technician or a woman ready to throw off her jacket and show that she's wearing a bustier around the workplace. These people look like they have jobs. They dress like they are people who live among other people with jobs and aren't ready to have sex with co-workers on office desks or among the file cabinets. This is not 'Suits.' I am glad I stayed with the film and watched it to the end, although I lost interest in the 'competition.' The romance is sweet and subdued. But still - oh, so sweet.

The chemistry of Thora and Chris as they compete reminds of the old Grant and Hepburn movies, but with a timely twist. You start with a great script, my favorite director, and a great team of producers, and you end up with a battle of the wits that is steeped in romance and full of many laugh out loud moments. I'm a Thora Birch fan from the get-go, but the depth and insight she brought to the character blew me away. Chris Klein has honed his romantic lead ability he's been leading with since he was a kid. I love the dynamic Claire Coffee gets in her role and as usual, she nailed it!. Tiffany Fallon shows her comedic flair is as awesome as her beauty. I'm always impressed with Harvey Lowry calling the shots, but it was a blast to see him on the other side of the camera. Kelsey Tucker envisioned and wrote this smart screenplay, and then she produced and acted in it. That's a triple threat talent you don't see often. Rachel Meyer and Jasmine Fontes worked their magic to make things happen magically. Too many great talents to mention, but they all deserve mentioning. A perfect date movie that's entertaining for anyone. Even a dude like me who couldn't wait for his significant other to join him. That's alright, I'll watch it again. And again! Highly recommend this Rom-Com with a new twist to the classic genre.