Landline (2017)

Landline Cheating on your spouse in the 1990s was more acceptable because the President was doing it. However, according to this comedy it didn't make it any less upsetting on the children. While twenty-something-year-old Dana (Jenny Slate) is cheating on her fiancé (Jay Duplass) with her ex (Finn Wittrock), she learns from her teenage sister Ali (Abby Quinn) that their father (John Turturro) has been having an affair on their mother (Edie Falco). This bombshell not only helps to reconnect the estranged siblings, but also forces Dana to confront her own infidelity and for Ali to face her growing drug addiction. While it's enjoyable to relive the nineties, there is little else to enjoy about this run-of-the-mill period piece. With a derivative narrative about a New York affair, flat punch lines and unlikeable leads, Landline is best left disconnected. Besides, who needed to cheat in the 1990s when landlines offered 3-way? Red Light

'LANDLINE': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)The new comedy-drama that reteams filmmaker Gillian Robespierre with actress Jenny Slate; they last teamed together in 2014's 'OBVIOUS CHILD'. The film tells the story of two sisters, in 1995 Manhattan, that suspect their dad is cheating on their mom. Robespierre directed and co-wrote the movie, with Elisabeth Holm and Tom Bean, and Slate plays the elder sister Dana. It also costars Abby Quinn (as the younger sister Ali), Edie Falco (as their mom), John Turturro (as their dad) and Jay Duplass (as Dana's fiancé). The film has received mostly positive reviews from critics (although not as good as 'OBVIOUS CHILD'), and it's now playing in indie theaters. The film is hard to watch at times, but it's very well made and moving.The story takes place in Manhattan (in 1995), where teenager Ali (Quinn) lives with her parents, Alan (Turturro) and Pat (Falco). Her older sister, Dana (Slate), is (seemingly) happily engaged to Ben (Duplass). Then Dana runs into an old lover (Finn Wittrock), and her loyalty to Ben is tested. Ali also learns that her father has probably been cheating on her mother. The two sisters try to deal with these problems together. The film is definitely not as upbeat and sweet as 'OBVIOUS CHILD' (which was one of my favorite movies of 2014), but it is just as emotional, in a somewhat darker way though. It's hard to watch at times, but it seems very true to life. The performances are all good in it, and Robespierre is definitely turning into a very impressive filmmaker to watch for. I highly recommend it.Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/PdeLWCp_JrI

A lighthearted humorous escape with some gorgeous looking people, some nostalgia, and a lot of wit. A family of four--father, mother, adult daughter and teenage daughter, living in New York City. Deals with themes of fidelity, secrets and commitment. Some things they leave you hanging for a while about. See it for a fun time.

LANDLINE (2017) *** Jenny Slate, Abby Quinn, John Turturro, Edie Falco, Jay Duplass, Finn Wittrock. Woody Allen-lite could best describe this dramedy about a NYC family who are going thru several crises largely due to infidelities and identity confirmations. Slate and Quinn are the bickering siblings whose tight knit bond is forged via sarcasm and hearts on their sleeves as they discover their father (Turturro) is having an affair while they are both dealing with their own domestic pitfalls - inklings of wanting something more out of the relationships they both have with other paramours. Filmmaker Gillian Robespierre - who collaborated on the sharp, funny and cleverly warm hearted script with Elisabeth Holm and Tom Bean - has her nostalgia well intact setting the story in 1995 with a fun soundtrack and pre-Internet/cell phone absurdities. Slate's sexy cartoon voice and spiky vulnerability is no full-display and relative newcomer Quinn holds her own with punchy abrasive thrusts-and-parries verbally. An indie gem.