Group Therapy

 The Hulu binge continues ...

ALL MY FRIENDS HATE ME (2021) (A-minus) - This is an utterly British cringe comedy, powered by its star (and co-writer), Tom Stourton, about a reunion of college friends that turns into a nightmare for our awkward hero. 

Stourton is amiable Pete, who is totally unprepared for the apparent gaslighting he will experience all weekend at a country estate with his former best friends, including an ex-girlfriend. There is an interloper, a local named Harry (a naughty Dustin Demri-Burns), who mocks Pete, invades his personal space, and likes to take notes whenever Pete makes a social faux pas. 

With a dash of Monty Python absurdism, the film locks Pete into a spiral of anxiety he just can't escape, thanks to the outrageous antics of his mates, who seem to resent him for dumping Claire (Antonia Clarke) and for being a goody-two-shoes aid worker. When his future fiancee arrives, there is a fear that she is joining the plot against him. Pete is a nice guy trapped in a no-win situation, a bit like a millennial Dick Van Dyke navigating a sitcom nightmare. 

The dialogue zips around among the characters, and the tension ratchets at just the right pace. Stourton commands every scene with an Everyman charm, and the ensemble keeps him on his toes. A climactic reckoning is both bizarre and a bit chilling -- a dash of David Lynch to seal the deal. A wry coda puts a neat bow on this little gem.

MARK, MARY + SOME OTHER PEOPLE (2021) (A-minus) - Hannah Marks ("Banana Split") writes and directs, and assembles a fantastic cast of millennials for a funny and insightful think piece about open relationships. She is blessed with two strong leads as the quirky couple, Mark and Mary, played with verve and nuance by shlubby Ben Rosenfield and the dynamic Hayley Law. 

Rosenfield's Mark is perfectly awkward but also situationally confident. He rocks a pathetic porn 'stache and wild hair. Law has a mesmerizing presence, with striking features and big, beautiful eyes. And she can sing. Mary fronts a punk band with her sister and a friend, Lana (an equally exotic Odessa A'zion), the latter of whom will find her way into a threesome with Mark and Mary after the couple opens up their marriage.

Mark and Mary start out with a meet-cute in a convenience store (having previously run into each other socially) and wed a year later. Mary comes up with the idea of non-monogamy but will soon feel some twinges of regret when Mark dives into the dating scene with verve. Never does their story descend into cliche or cheap gags; at all times this feels like a real couple exploring the future together and apart. 

The story has a heart and an edge to it. The script is meticulously written. Rosenfeld and Law live deeply in their characters, with a fair amount of workshopped improv apparent. It's constantly clever in a believable way. A laugh is always around the corner, but the emotional stakes are genuine.

The supporting cast bolsters the two leads. Mark, too, has a two-member Greek chorus to bounce things off of, and Nik Dodani and Matt Shively make the most of it, particularly when they are breaking down the dating scene or recoiling at the notion of parenthood. A couple of elders helps out as well -- Lea Thompson is cool as an OG poly, Aunty Carol, and Gillian Jacobs makes it look effortless as a wise-cracking gynecologist.

Marks has an ear for the patter of her generation, and she knows how to shape a narrative arc. Whether in front of the camera or behind it, she makes movies special.

BONUS TRACKS

The trailers:

 

Over the "Mark, Mary" closing credits, Cults with "Always Forever" ...

 ... and Green Day with "Holy Toldedo!":