Joss Whedon. Creator of illustrious TV shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, and current Overlord of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Last time he took a step back from his current role he delivered unto us a small intimate piece using script from a little-known writer, William Shakespeare. The end product Much Ado About Nothing was one of the most delightful surprises of 2013. This year, before the Age of Ultron is upon us, he wrote and executive produced In Your Eyes, again a smaller tale of love with one of those Whedon quirks.
THE MOVIEAs In Your Eyes begins we see a young girl going sledding intercut with a boy of similar age playing around in a classroom. As the girl hurtles towards a tree, the boy breaks his silence and is thrown from his chair. It is evident that for a brief second they shared the same terrifying experience. The film catches up with the pair years later, adults each. The boy, Dylan (Michael Stahl-David) has served time and is now trying to go straight in New Mexico, while the young girl Rebecca (Zoe Kazan) is married to a controlling husband in New Hampshire. While growing up, they have continued to share involuntary flashes of each others lives, but as we rejoin the pair the barrier breaks down allowing them to talk to each other and have some level of control over what they share with each other. As each deals with their own personal problems this connection brings them closer together and a friendship becomes something more.
On the surface it sounds interesting; what could be better than a romantic comedy imbued with the wit of Whedon and with a nifty fantastical spin on top? Sadly, it never quite comes together. From the opening there is a feeling of triteness. The whole endeavor seems more like the pilot for a TV show than a theatrical production. The movie explores themes of connectivity, of note in an age of mobile phones and texting, but comes across a little heavy handed. Once scene in particular has a bar patron point out a “no cell phones” sign as they are lost in conversation with each other. Similarly the writers got so lost in the conversation between the pair that they neglected everything else around them. Director Brin Hill does well in some parts, handling the juxtaposition between the two characters well, primarily using a simple cut back and forth between the pair. The simplicity of this complements the approach to the film, but this is a production hamstrung by the writing. This phenomenon that brings the pair together is a perfect excuse for lengthy scenes of conversation which should delight any fan of Whedon; however here it just doesn’t come together.
There are a few moments that stand out between Dylan and Rebecca, using the plot device well: playful inspiration from Cyrano De Bergerac as she tutors him on a date, him helping her fix her car as a mechanic tries to rip her off. During these sequences the film falls into a rather sweet rhythm. The growth between the pair is genuine and unfolds pretty naturally. There is a nice simplicity in these sequences, just letting two talented actors play off each other, even if they are just in each other’s heads; however this focus on the two means the rest of the background players fall by the wayside. Side plots and attempts to imbue drama fall flat. When they crowbar in a car chase sequence towards the end it just compounds how lacking the script is.
With Whedon you can usually fall back on the characters and the wit and charm he imbues them with to keep you involved. Here, sadly, most are paper thin, merely there in service to keep the plot ticking along. Stahl-David works a folksy, rough charm into the film, reminiscent of Ryan Kwanten in True Blood, but nowhere near as successful. One gem is the adorable Zoe Kazan, who continues Whedon’s remarkable talent for drawing fantastic female talents to his projects. A quirky delight lost amidst a sea of mediocrity.
THE PACKAGEThe film itself looks pretty solid considering it is on DVD, not a hi-def release. That said, the production values are on the lower side and visually the film has a “shot for TV” look and feel. There are no extra features to speak of, perhaps VOD would be the way to go if you need to check this one out.
THE BOTTOM LINEA new effort from Whedon is usually something I embrace with glee; however, In Your Eyes is a mediocre effort, an endearing performance from Kazan being the only silver lining. A cloying, trite affair that lacks all the quirky charm you would usually attribute to him, it’s gimmicky hook being insufficient to dredge it to a higher level. Some may find aspects of the film to appreciate, notably the central acting pair, but Whedon fans will expect better than this.
In Your Eyes is available as of 10th February, 2015.