SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE 2020: TAKING THE FALL

TAKING THE FALL (2020)

Starring: Munro Chambers, Roland Buck III, Katie Gill

Writer: Steven Hellman

Director: Josh Marble

Released from a six-year stretch in prison for possession of marijuana, Tyler (Chambers) is met by best buddy Justin (Buck III) and taken to a place that's been rented specially. Tyler is expecting a night of catching up and getting drunk with Justin but he soon finds out that the other friends in their group are joining them too for a dinner party.

What starts off as a somewhat awkward reunion party becomes increasingly fraught as Tyler discovers the people he left behind all those years ago are struggling with their jobs, relationships, finances and an increasingly difficult pursuit of happiness. Even so, it's hardly comparable with spending six years behind bars, right?

The focus of Josh Marble's film - the struggles of a particular generation - has been covered before but Steven Hellman's script rings with truth and the piece is anchored by accomplished performances from Munro Chambers and Roland Buck III. The former nails the awkwardness of a man finding himself not only dropped back into normal society but immediately having to deal with the social group he was torn from. The latter is charming and fun as the best friend who doesn't allow the baggage of millennial culture to weigh him down.

There's initial amusement to be from Tyler being out of the loop for so long - he can't get his head around the popularity of yoga, for instance - before the second act settles into a more dramatic groove as the guests arrive. Tyler and Justin's other close male friend Pete works in a well-paid job which he hates but tolerates because he was given the role by the father of his partner Michelle.

Then there's Allison, a single mother who shows up with daughter Selena (and Selena might just be more together than the mother). Finally, there's Kate (played by the wonderfully named Avalon Penrose) with whom Tyler was romantically involved. Six years down the line, however, she's moved on and she's now with Zachary (Jonathan Dylan King) who doesn't seem to be in any hurry to find gainful employment and is more interested in brewing his own craft lager.

It's clear that long-simmering tensions - or in the case of Tyler and Zachary, freshly-minted tensions from an instant dislike - will come to the fore but none of the flashpoints are overplayed even when the past is revisited and we're given the details of how Tyler ended up doing time. Ensemble pieces such as these can end up in screaming matches and destroyed relationships because it's the showy thing to do. Taking The Fall gives the histrionics a swerve; its confrontations are effective because they're more measured and authentic.

At the end of it all, there are no easy answers provided but there is hope for those who won't settle for their lot in life. It's an idealistic stance but, set against the drudgery of the current existence of many of its characters, what is there to lose? In terms of the ongoing friendships of the various characters, there's a feeling that nothing is final in spite of the evening's events and the tale will continue in its messy way long after the credits have rolled.

You may get the feeling you have seen similar films of Taking The Fall before and it's fair to say that you probably have, but this particular effort is worth sticking with for its well-observed writing and accomplished performances. Perhaps you'll be glad that you haven't scored an invitation to this dinner party but it's intriguing to be on the outside looking in.