Fast and Loose
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Comedy, 08-Feb-2018
Playing a version of himself, director Whitmer (aka Whit) Thomas drifts through L.A., meeting up with a series of friends and alienating them in various ways. Both comedic and revealing, "Fast and Loose" is a casual hang but an incisive one. As a self-reflection of a particular sort of friend group, it finds its footing as a film about personal hangups and projecting those hangups onto others. Whit's friend, Budd, is starting to exercise and eat healthier. A noble goal, and charming since he's doing it to better himself for a woman he wants to ask out. But according to Whit's unsolicited advice, Budd needs to stop pussy-footing around and just ask her out. Meanwhile, Whit is currently dating two women (satisfying neither) because that's the way things go now. For all his bravado, we eventually do see another side of Whit allowing the short to expand past expectations. On a date with his newer girlfriend, Beth (played by Penelope Gazin), he's forced into exposing layers of vulnerability. While Thomas is a stand-up comedian, his film is not quite a straight comedy. A loose follow-up to “Blue Line," another endearingly intimate short film by the same team (which fills out some psychological insights into Thomas’ character), “Fast and Loose” is filled with naturally funny performers, and isn't afraid to cut deep. Also, that choice jazz fusion soundtrack. Written and Directed by Whitmer Thomas. Director of Photography: Arlene Muller. Produced by Ryan Kohler. Starring Whitmer Thomas, Budd Diaz, Anna Seregina, Penelope Gazin, and Clay Tatum.