This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 206! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.
Hey friends! 👋 So, I finally saw “Stress Positions,” that 2024 movie everyone’s been buzzing about. And honestly? It wasn’t quite my cup of tea.
Now, I’m usually not one for pandemic-themed movies. They can feel a bit like rubbing salt in a wound, you know? But this one…this one’s different. It’s not just about the virus virus, but the virus of anxiety and uncertainty that infected us all, especially those of us who, let’s say, enjoy our personal space.
The movie follows Terry Goon, played by John Early, who’s stuck in his ex-husband’s Brooklyn brownstone during the pandemic and is, of course, hilarious and cringe-worthy in equal measure. He’s taking care of his nephew Bahlul (Qaher Harhash), a model recovering from a broken leg . Sounds simple, right? WRONG.
Terry’s life is a chaotic whirlwind of neurotic friends, a self-involved masseuse named Karla (played by the director Theda Hammel herself!), and his own anxieties. And the dynamic between Bahlul and Terry is like mixing oil and water—messy but fascinating. It’s like a train wreck you can’t look away from. 🥴
On the plus side, this movie isn’t just the claustrophobic setting —nope, it’s the raw, real emotion it digs into. You feel every awkward silence and every forced conversation as these characters navigate a world turned upside down. It’s like being a fly on the wall in someone else’s pandemic nightmare, and you can’t help but relate to at least some of it. I mean, who didn’t have a moment of “What the heck is my life right now?” during the pandemic?
But back to the movie. The plot itself is fairly simple and the way it’s executed that makes it kind of captivating. The dialogue is sharp, the characters are flawed but relatable, and the humor is dark and often uncomfortable. It’s like eavesdropping on a conversation you shouldn’t be hearing, but you just can’t look away. 👀
But the biggest issue for me was the story itself. It was all over the place! The movie tried to be a pandemic satire, a relationship drama, and a social commentary all at once. It felt like the director had a million ideas and tried to cram them all into one film.
Another thing that bothered me was the tone. It was supposed to be a comedy, but most of the jokes fell flat. The humor was often dark and cynical, which didn’t really mesh well with the chaotic plot. There were a few moments that made me chuckle, but overall, it just wasn’t that funny.
So for me, “Stress Positions” was a wee bit of a letdown. It’s a shame because I usually enjoy John Early’s work, and the premise sounded interesting. But hey, that’s just my opinion! You might love it. I know a lot of people do.
So if you’re into dark comedies with chaotic plots and neurotic characters, then this might be the movie for you. But if you’re looking for something light and funny, I’d suggest looking elsewhere.
Catch you tomorrow,
Roger✌️