Jenny Slate has found her way back to the big screen after the fairly successful Obvious Child, where she gets an abortion and doesn’t even die (!). Landline has the same indie feel thanks to its shared director and writer, Gillian Robespierre and Elisabeth Holm, respectively. Landline zooms out to tell the story of a whole family wrestling with the idea of infidelity. Joining Slate in the cast were Edie Falco and Jay Duplass, who lent a strong sense of humor and catharsis.
Overall Impression
I haven’t seen Mermaids for years, but something about Landline reminded me of it. Maybe because it’s about a family coming together without the guise that any of them are strong or perfect. There was also a fair amount of bonding done in bathrooms.
Why You Should See It
Jenny Slate is your girl crush, which I’m assuming she is cuz duh.
Best Part
When Dana and her sister Ali both run away to their parents’ cabin and end up getting drunk together.
Worst Part
Not enough Edie Falco.
Alternate Interpretation
An exploration of the erotic power of text edit documents.
Overall Rating
7/10. Landline is smart and emotionally intelligent. This lands it firmly in the mumblecore camp, which is ever-growing and tends to explore the limits of traditional relationships. I enjoyed it a lot, but it probably won’t enter the canon of my favorite movies.