The Feels (film)

The Feels
film poster; a cream-color background, with bright pink credits; the film title is surrounded by sketch-like illustrations of female torsos
Directed byJenée LaMarque
Screenplay byJenée LaMarque
Lauren Parks
StarringConstance Wu
Angela Trimbur
Josh Fadem
Jenée LaMarque
Ever Mainard
CinematographyKristin Fieldhouse
Edited bySteph Zenee Perez
Production
company
Provenance Pictures
Release date
  • 9 June 2017 (2017-06-09)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Feels is a 2017 dramedy film directed by Jenée LaMarque. Starring Constance Wu, Angela Trimbur, Josh Fadem, and LaMarque, the film follows a group of friends who set out on a lesbian bachelorette weekend.

Plot

For the upcoming nuptials of Andi and Lu, a group of friends celebrate during bachelorette weekend. Under the influence of alcohol, Lu admits to everyone that she has never had an orgasm, to Andi's complete surprise and dismay. The fun weekend is derailed in unexpected ways, causing everyone to reflect on subjects such as trust, love, and their first orgasms.

Cast

Reception

Variety critic Dennis Harvey called the film "uneven but pleasing", predicting a target audience following in LGBT circles, and modest mainstream success. He concluded that the film fell somewhat short as a drama, because it didn't reach the necessary depth of the characters, but that "as a comedy, The Feels has considerable sprightly appeal, although it could have used slightly more assertive visual packaging. The dialogue and scene rhythms have a nice, loose, improvisational feel, and Steph Zenee Perez's editing maintains a bright pace."[1] Cinema365 also gave the film a mixed review: The critique found it refreshing to see lesbians given the front and center of a film, as "often Hollywood tends to give the lesbian community short shrift, relegating them to supporting roles or comedy relief. Very rarely are any films told from a lesbian point of view even in independent films as this one is." The review called upon mainstream audiences to view it, and not see it as a lesbian niche work. On the negative side, however, this review also found the drama of the film "manufactured rather than earned."[2]

Womentainment, on the other hand, gave the films an enthusiastic, unreserved "go watch it now!". Reviewer Karina H. Adelgaard found all the characters likable, enjoyed the "lesbian drama", and especially commended the film for being a lesbian drama with a happy ending.[3]

Awards

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2018 Cleveland International Film Festival[4] Best American Independent Feature Jenée LaMarque Nominated
ReelWomenDirect Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman Nominated
2017 L.A. Outfest[5] Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film Ever Mainard Won
Long Beach QFilm Festival[5] Outstanding Performance Won
NewFest: New York's LGBT Film Festival[5] Best Feature The Feels Won
Seattle International Film Festival[6] New American Cinema Competition Jenée LaMarque Nominated

See also

References

  1. ^ Harvey, Dennis (June 21, 2017). "Film Review: 'The Feels'". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "The Feels". Cinema365. April 13, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  3. ^ Adelgaard, Karina H. (October 28, 2018). "The Feels (2017) – Review | LGBT movie on Netflix". Womentainment. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  4. ^ "The Feels - Cleveland International Film Festival :: March 22 - April 1, 2023". www.clevelandfilm.org. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Altered.LA | Jenée LaMarque". Altered.LA. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  6. ^ Saito, Stephen (June 14, 2017). "Seattle Film Fest '17 Interview: Jenée LaMarque on Giving All "The Feels"". The Moveable Fest. Retrieved October 29, 2022.