Comedy, Cosmos, and Connections: an Unlikely Blend

Read Time:3 Minute, 33 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Unidentified Objects
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Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 40m
Director(s): Juan Felipe Zuleta
Writer(s): Leland Frankel
Cast: Sarah Hay, Matthew August Jeffers, Roberta Colindrez, Tara Pacheco, Hamish Allan-Headley, Kerry Flanagan, John Ryan Benavides, Dorian Perez, Andrew Stevens Purdy, Roy Abramsohn, Elliot Frances Flynn
Where To Watch: Buy/rent here on iTunes: tv.apple.com

RAVING REVIEW: Imagine the vibrant cityscape of New York City, teeming with potential and chance encounters. It's the backdrop of our tale and home to Peter (Matthew Jeffers,) a man whose small stature is inversely proportional to the size of his solitude. Meet Winona (Sarah Hay), his vivacious yet enigmatic next-door inhabitant. Propelled by her conviction in an imminent alien rendezvous, she persuades Peter into an unplanned trip to the tranquility of Canada's countryside. This adventure met with peculiar moments, revealing their most profound internal conflicts while confronting the awe-inspiring, intimidating concept of cosmic solitude and potential alien intrusion.

Unfolding at the narrative's heart is Winona, a woman on the verge of answers to her curiosity about celestial visitors. With a tinge of uncertainty, Peter agrees to help her on this journey, which is a most unusual road trip movie. Peter, somewhat introverted at heart, is thrust into Winona's intriguing sphere of influence. The duo embarks on a unique quest, one hinting at a close encounter with beings from another world. As their journey unfolds, the film expertly underscores the metamorphic effect of interpersonal connections, compelling us to reconsider our judgments about our fellow earthlings. UNIDENTIFIED OBJECTS, the directorial venture of Juan Felipe Zuleta, deftly weaves the extraterrestrial element into the narrative, providing a roadmap to Peter's self-exploration and his awakening to his spot in life's grandeur. Ironically, even though I have brought up extraterrestrials multiple times, the film still feels entirely grounded in reality without being jarring.

Navigating through Canada's lush green expanses, the film uncovers the dynamic interplay between Peter and Winona. Their interaction with a diverse range of characters brings their hidden turmoils to light, and they confront varying beliefs about extraterrestrial life, a reflection of their anxieties and doubts. One scene helps explicitly show Peter and Winona face their troubled histories, underlining the daunting prospect of solitude in a seemingly boundless cosmos.

UNIDENTIFIED OBJECTS explores the untamed wilderness of Peter's imagination, comparing it to the erratic snap of a rubber band. Peter often retreats into his imaginative sanctuary, transcending the confines of his routine existence. Weighed down by remorse, Peter keeps society at arm's length, but his burgeoning friendship with Winona, a woman trying to shed her past, nudges him towards confronting his inner self.

In his role as Peter, Matthew Jeffers commands the viewer's attention with a performance that evokes sympathy despite Peter's bristly exterior. The film portrays Peter's self-imposed seclusion and his struggle with self-acceptance, offering viewers insightful and resonating observations. Furthermore, the film employs Peter's cynicism as a comedic device, highlighting Jeffers' knack for delivering memorable one-liners.

UNIDENTIFIED OBJECTS leave an indelible mark by scrutinizing the notions of alien life and the importance of personal connections. It questions the traditional views of cosmic solitude and underscores the need to cultivate genuine relationships on our home planet. The film encourages viewers to appreciate the inherent beauty and sincerity in themselves and their environment.

The lead actors deliver standout performances as the storyline peels back the layers to reveal Winona's truth. This is an artful blend of diverse genres – a friendly comedy, a space opera, a tale of belated self-discovery, and an unconventional road trip narrative. It refrains from being fixated on the destination while emphasizing the value of the journey.

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[photo courtesy of QUIVER DISTRIBUTION]