When Andrew unexpectedly shows up on Ben's doorstep late one night, the two old college friends immediately fall into their old dynamic of heterosexual one-upmanship. To save Ben from domestication, Andrew invites Ben to a party at a sex-positive commune. Everyone there plans on making erotic art films for the local amateur porn festival and Andrew wants in. They run out of booze and ideas, save for one: Andrew should have sex with Ben, on camera.
I wanted to start my 2011 reviews with Humpday because of it's relative obscurity. Introducing people to new things is always fun. Do you really want to know what I thought of all the big name films? Yes? Well too bad, you're going to hear about two adult heterosexual men who want to have sex with each other for the sake of art.
Humpday stars Mark Duplass who, along with his brother Jay (usually found behind the scenes), introduced the world to the now confusingly labeled genre "mumblecore" with their wonderfully refreshing full length debut The Puffy Chair. Let it be known that I hate that label. These films, which includes Humpday, are basically just lo-budget indie films. Why are they now called Mumblecore? I have no idea; I can hear all of the actors just fine. If you haven't seen The Puffy Chair yet, or their follow up Baghead, do yourself a favor and rent them. They're worth seeing and you may love them. You may hate them too, but so goes lo-budget indie filmmaking. Their newest was Cyrus, which features much bigger stars and had a much larger release. I actually assumed Humpday was written and directed by the brothers Duplass until I wrote this review. It is actually written and directed by unknown filmmaker Lynn Shelton.
I found Humpday to be a very fascinating character study, as it tackled the male psyche through sexuality. I think I've been out of academia way too long to write intellectually on said study, so I'll stick to the movie review. What I think sets these "mumblecore" films aside from your usual indie flicks is the unbelievable level of authenticity they portray. It's a fictional story, largely un-improvised, however if you were stumble upon it on cable one night I wouldn't be surprised if you thought it was a documentary. The true to life conversations, vocabulary and accurate situational reactions make Humpday completely accessible and believable. When you connect to these characters and find bits of yourself in them, it makes the experience so much more satisfying.
I think I speak for most straight men out there, at least the ones who care to admit it, when I say that while the set up of two heterosexual friends agreeing to have sex with each other on film seems out of left field for some, sexual acts between two straight friends is a completely normal thought or conversation that occurs. While most don't end up up on as serious of a level as they do in Humpday, that thought is still there in the background for most guys....what if? Could I? How many beers would it take? I think the true to life reactions and rationalizations that occur between Ben and Andrew are startlingly real. Humpday could have just focused on Ben and Andrew's relationship, however the film also tackles the changes seen in Ben since Andrew's arrival and how their decision effects Ben's relationship with his wife Alycia. With just as much clarity, we watch as Alycia tries to come to terms with her husband's strange actions and decisions.
It's fascinating to witness how the injection of one dude from your past can completely change someone you love. They start acting differently, treating you differently, and having sex on film. It's wonderful to see that change studied with such authenticity as it is in Humpday. This subject matter has been superficially taken on countless times in other sitcoms for the sake of easy humor, but Humpday hits home with its spot on performances and documentary feel. Oh, and that is indeed the guy from The Blair Witch Project. I love him!
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