Page 2 November 19, 2020
Entertainment
Film Review
The Climb is a Blissfully
Deadpan Buddy Comedy
By Ryan Rojas for cinemacy.com
I didn’t know what type of film I was getting
myself into when queueing up The Climb, the
newest release from Sony Pictures Classics.
Judging by the key art, I thought it was going
to be a buddy-comedy about cyclist friends
who exchange witty, occasionally profound
musings about life captured along lovely vistas.
In the best way possible, The Climb is not
that film. It’s arguably the funniest, and one
of my very favorite, films of the year.
The title of the film doesn’t exactly relay
what this movie is about, although it is accurate
in what happens: two buddies move through
adult life in a Sisyphean manner. It’s a deadpan
buddy comedy that dips into the surreal and
absurd, with real filmmaking finesse.
The Climb tells the story of these two
friends–Kyle (Kyle Marvin) and Michael (Michael
Angelo Covino)–whose relationship can
at best be described as toxic. They undermine
each other’s lives in fully conscious ways. As
the film opens, Kyle gets engaged and Michael
confesses to having slept with his fianceé. Some
time and another engagement later, the friends
find themselves in similar territory.
And yet what The Climb shows is that
they have a bond so unquestioned, like toddlers,
that their terrible behavior is seen
as earnest and sorrowful. And it’s exacted
with meta-awareness, adding to their deadpan,
dopey charisma, which makes their
low-wattage reaction and reconciling of life
events hilarious. To make matters funnier, this
pares with moments where the film glides
into the absurd, where impromptu musical
sequences surprised me with such delight. As
the film went on (it’s broken up into chapters),
I continued to enjoy this movie, and couldn’t
wait to recommend it to my friends.
And while The Climb stars two dim-witted
dudes, it’s also a movie made with real cinematic
skills, pulled off behind the camera by the very
dudes in front of it. Michael Angelo Covino
and Kyle Marvin also wrote and produced the
film, with the former getting director credit.
While The Climb is my exact type of
comedy–deadpan and dipping into the surreal–
it’s also a comedy that has real cinematic
skills: most of the film is comprised of incredibly
directed single-take sequences of slowly
unfolding scenes (that give off a measured
pace and sense of calm that runs counter to
the unexpected comedy that arises).
More so than The Climb being just a hilarious
film and one of my favorite releases of
the year, it’s also the arrival of a new comedic
duo that I can’t wait to see what they do next.
98 min. ‘The Climb’ is rated R for language,
sexual content, some nudity, and brief drug use.
Now playing in Los Angeles at the Vineland
Drive-In. •
The Climb, courtesy Sony Pictures Classics
Ryan Rojas.
Your Neighborhood Therapist
Dear Neighborhood Therapist:
The holidays are coming up. We’ve just
been through an election. Half my family
is thrilled, and the other half is devastated.
I actually do have that crazy uncle who
I know is going to want to talk about it
over Thanksgiving dinner and I know
myself well enough to know that I am not
going to back down if he says something
offensive. I don’t mind disagreeing, but I
don’t want it to get ugly. Should I even
go? Are there ways of “turning down the
volume” so that we don’t all end up shouting
at each other?
– Outspoken but Speaking Up, El Segundo
Dear Outspoken but Speaking Up,
The Great Thanksgiving Argument is
one of those times when we shake our
heads and drop our jaws at the things our
loved ones say. At the same time, if done
properly there’s a chance it just might
serve as a welcome reminder that it is possible
to both love and strongly disagree with
someone. I won’t say productive engagement
is always possible, but if you proceed with
caution it can even be rewarding. Here are
some ideas.
First, can you establish a shared set of facts,
even if you don’t agree on their significance?
“Can we agree that this is what happened?”
If you cannot agree on this point, it’s probably
best to take the first exit ramp and talk
about sports or the weather.
Softball questions are a good start: do we
agree that we want a better world for our
children? Do we agree that clean air is better
than dirty air? Is it crazy that a croissant costs
a buck and a quarter on the Champs Elysees
but five dollars in El Segundo?
If Uncle insists on launching into a monologue
about His Pet Issue, try approaching
the situation like an investigative reporter
or an anthropologist. Ask him, “When you
think about all the problems we are facing,
where does Your Pet Issue rank? What in
your life experience contributes to it having
that ranking for you? If you get everything
you want on Your Pet Issue, how will others
be affected, and is that cool with you?”
And so on.
The best way to “turn it down” is to never
let the temperature rise too much. It’s easier
said than done, of course: try paying close
attention not only to the words being said,
but also what else is happening. Imagine
your discussion is a tennis match with Billie
Jean King doing the commentary: is she
saying you’re engaged in a meeting of two
great champions making great shots? Or
is she noting that one of you is slamming
their racket and yelling at the umpire? Those
great matches can be gratifying: good backand
forth expands our minds and sharpens
our thinking. But when one player throws
a tantrum, sometimes it’s best just to wait
it out. You’ve probably already won the
match anyway.
Tom Andre is a Licensed Marriage &
Family Therapist (LMFT119254). Please text
to 310.776.5299 or write to tom@tomandrecounseling.
com with questions about handling
what is affecting your life, your family, the
community or the world. The information in
this column is for educational purposes only
and nothing herein should be construed as
professional advice or the formation of a
therapeutic relationship. •
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Yard Sale
NO RAIN IN FORECAST. Lets
try this again! Yard Sale, Saturday
November 21st, 8am-1pm, 1413 E
Walnut Ave. Electronics, furniture,
household items, CDs, and more!
Office Space for Rent
OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT:
Professional & well maintained
building, has a spacious unit available
in a great location. Close to the DMV,
and minutes away from Inglewood City
Hall, the Forum, SOFI Stadium and
the Hollywood Park Casino. $1,200.00
per month. (323) 294-4932.
Employment
Part-time Sales. Looking for motivated
part-time workers. Inside sales: work
from home and make sales calls.
15% commission on all sales. Outside
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El Segundo. Includes walking and
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management@heraldpublications.com.
For Sale
Standard King Size Bed w Frame.
1 Mattress & 2 Boxsprings. Like
new. $195. Call 310.365.1481 or
310.641.2148.
Apartment For Rent
Top El Segundo location, 2 parking
spaces, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. Excellent
condition. $2,100 per month.
310.322.2837.
For Sale
9 Drawer Dresser, Mirror, &
Nightstand. 50 years old. Like new.
Call 310.365.1481 or 310.641.2148.
Wanted
WANTED. Vinyl, vinyl, vinyl records,
anything musical. Collectibles/
antiques. Typewriters, sewing
machines, military, silver, Japan,
records, stamps, coins, jewelry,
Chinese, ANYTHING. Buy/Sell/Trade.
We sell for you on EBAY. Studio
Antiques, El Segundo. 310.322.3895.
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