I hadn't hoped for much when I first came across 'Cold feet,' but I'll try watching just about anything. I was pleasantly surprised to notice at the start that star Allen C. Gardner wrote and co-directed 'Cold feet'; I've only seen one other film from him (2018 comedy-drama 'Save yourself'), but I quite enjoyed it. For whatever time she has on-screen, it was Najarra Townsend's involvement that drew me in in the first place; I've seen a few of her movies, and I think she's a swell actress. I began watching with only this sparse foreknowledge - and in no time the movie totally bested all my expectations. I can get why this doesn't sit well with all potential viewers, but I love it!
What makes 'Cold feet' so terrific is that it dabbles with very familiar tropes and story ideas - then completely turns them on their head, and endlessly parodies them. The movie begins with the set-up of a tired bachelor party comedy (1984's 'Bachelor party,' with Tom Hanks, on the lighter side - or on the opposite end of the spectrum, 1998's 'Very bad things'), but every instance of raunchy humor and dialogue, and suggested homophobia, is immediately countered by disinterested responses, reasoned discussion, and apologies. Flaring tempers and wild bombast are replaced by quiet heartfelt conversation and mutual support. Every plot point and joke is consciously teased out with only mild, lethargic pacing to deaden the usual effect (schlocky sex comedy), and heighten the intended one (deadpan mockery). Every conventional turn in the plot is warped to the same end, and even the haunted house angle is twisted around. Any sense of horror, suspense, or thrills that should follow from the added genre element is pointedly flattened by deliberate plot development, and a mouthful of exposition that explains the entirety of the scenario.
If all this sounds horridly dull to you - well, I understand. Everyone has their personal preferences. For my part, I cannot overstate what a delight it was to watch all these ideas, that in any other movie would be force-fed to audiences with loud and obnoxious energy, skewered in a marvelously witty way. Why, for has heavily as 'Cold feet' derides its cousins, the fun is so balanced - almost softly condescending - that it arguably comes off as weirdly wholesome. When is the last time any comedy could be described as wholesome, let alone one about a bachelor party?
I love Gardner's screenplay, in which dialogue, characters, scene writing, and the narrative at large all converge to the same cheekily decent (as in, not indecent), jeering slant. I appreciate the costume design, hair and makeup, blood, and effects that help to tie this little feature together. I admire the cast, all bringing great passion and good cheer to their roles - and especially Gardner, Townsend, and co-star Matt Mercer, who in their own ways each get an opportunity to particularly illustrate some of their skills. The comedic timing of some gags is just all too perfect, and the cleverness keeps coming right up until the moment that the end credits begin rolling. I had mixed to low expectations when I started watching, but in no time I came to adore this movie. There's sharp intelligence here, and heart, that is sadly missing from too many more recognizable modern titles. The method Gardner and co-director Brad Ellis use to let 'Cold feet' flout all assumptions is a pleasantly surprising, welcome trick, and the result is a fabulously entertaining, satisfying comedy. What more can I say? Two thumbs up from me!
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