Theda Hammel, the talented filmmaker behind the Sundance hit “My Trip to Spain,” is back with her feature debut, “Stress Positions,” and it’s everything you’ve been craving. In this larger-than-life production, Hammel brings her signature sharp humor and incisive parody to tackle a range of topics and themes, making it quite possibly the first genuinely enjoyable film about the pandemic.
A Stressful Summer Story
“Stress Positions” takes place over a few intense days in the summer of 2020. Our main character, Terry Goon (played by the brilliant John Early), finds himself in a whirlwind of stress. Recently divorced and unemployed, Terry is living in his ex-husband’s Brooklyn brownstone, consumed by fear of contracting COVID-19. To add to his troubles, he must also care for his existential crisis-ridden 19-year-old nephew, Bahlul (Qaher Harhash).
A Meddling Entourage
Enter Karla (played by Hammel herself) and her girlfriend Vanessa (Amy Zimmer), who further complicate Terry’s life with their meddling. Upstairs, there’s Coco (Rebecca F. Wright), Terry’s eccentric COVID-denying lodger, who proves to be a bad influence on Bahlul, adding to Terry’s frustration. And as if things weren’t chaotic enough, an attractive delivery guy (Faheem Ali) enters the picture, throwing Terry and Karla’s already strained friendship into disarray. To top it all off, a neck massager becomes a surprising catalyst, leading to a chaotic frenzy for most of the characters.
An Unconventional Narrative
Hammel masterfully weaves a unique narrative by using multiple voiceovers to provide emotional context and perspectives that shape the characters’ actions and behaviors. This storytelling technique keeps the audience as disoriented as the characters, creating a mesmerizing and hallucinogenic experience.
Capturing the Essence on Screen
Visually, Hammel employs blurred and slowed-down shots with off-center framing to represent memories in a haunting manner. The intense dialogue scenes are captured through tight close-ups, emphasizing the actors’ delivery and the complexity of their relationships. The film’s frenetic rhythm perfectly encapsulates the anxiety and fear that defined that pandemic summer.
Laughing at the Awful
Hammel’s sharp sense of humor shines through as she satirizes and showcases the annoying and ignorant aspects of society. The characters in “Stress Positions” are socially, politically, and geographically illiterate, yet Hammel makes them easy to enjoy and laugh at while fully understanding their deeply flawed personalities.
A Genre-Bending Take on Comedy
Hammel and her frequent collaborator, John Early, fearlessly put their queer generation under the spotlight. They pull no punches, making fun of everything from death and 9/11 to transness and the vapidness of gay men. Hammel’s writing is unmatched, delivering quips and jokes that hit the bullseye every time.
A Performance Worth Watching
John Early’s portrayal of Terry is a comedic masterpiece. His physical comedy, from facial expressions to exaggerated gestures, perfectly captures Terry’s exasperation with everyone and everything around him. Even the most mundane lines become laugh-out-loud moments with Early’s impeccable timing. You’ll find yourself loving the performance while simultaneously side-eyeing the character with utter repugnance.
Embrace the Darkness
Although not everyone will appreciate the humor and the abhorrent nature of the characters, “Stress Positions” is undeniably clever. As viewers, we’re asked to laugh at these intolerable people, while the writing, filmmaking, and performances expose their emptiness and hollowness.
For a pandemic comedy that truly delivers on laughter and sharp wit, “Stress Positions” is not to be missed. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride of hilarious chaos that will leave you in stitches.