Sophie and Jason are a pair of slackers in their 30s’ who live in LA and both have jobs that they can barely tolerate. He works on an IT Support Helpline from home, and she is the worst ever dance teacher for young kids. They have been together for about 4 years with no talk of children or indeed any commitment.
They decide to change their lives. This will come about by adopting a very sick cat who will need full time care. As the cat cannot leave the Vets for another month, Sophie and Jason decide that as this is to be their last 30 days of freedom ever, then they should spend them how they really want. They both give up their jobs, and Sophie has an affair (just because she can!) and Jason volunteers for an Environmental Organization (at which he is beyond useless).
And the cat named Paw Paw actually narrates part of the story. Hmmm.
This 2nd feature film written, directed and starring Miranda July is as weird as it sounds. No, it’s probably weirder. Ms. July plays Sophie and spends most of her time looking wistfully at either of the two men in her life, or straight at the camera and muttering almost inaudibly that you may think you have lost your hearing (as well as your mind).
Her debut movie back in 2005 ‘Me and You and Everyone We Know’ was delightfully quirky, this however is just plain quirky.
P.S. My cinephile friend pointed out to me that Ms. July is married to moviemaker Mike Mills who’s most recent movie was ‘Beginners’ the delightful tale of 70+ man ‘coming out’. This was part narrated by a dog, albeit very cute and not nearly as creepy sounding as Paw Paw. However I have made a mental note never to accept a dinner invite to their house, who knows what I may end up talking too!
★★★
