Some say this Bowen Island (British Columbia) set and shot film is an ensemble drama that is similar to “The Big Chill”. I can agree with that. It is in the reunion genre of film.
Let’s sort out the bad and good.
Sound echoes in the early moments of the film seem not to have been caught and corrected. The dialogue of these six former college best friends meeting after 25 years is somewhat shallow if not trite. That might have sunk the film but the very good of this film is the brilliance of the actors all delivering a stellar performance. The implosion explosion scene transports one to the intensity of a Shakespearean play. So give a standing ovation to Jesse L. Martin (as Michael), Michelle Harrison (as Rachel) and Bronwen Smith (as Carrie) and well deserved round of applause for Roger Cross (as Collin), Carmen Moore (as Natalie) and David James Lewis (as Danny).
The characters, all comfortable middle and upper-class types assemble, drink and smoke weed all rather playful and fun. Then the truth of how they perceive themselves oozes out and all are unhappy if not miserable. Then they have a mega explosion immaculately performed and a rather non-intended soap operatic if not comedic dialogue moves in the direction of destroying the film but is rescued by the brilliant acting which shunts aside the often-poor lines they are delivering.
An interesting delve-in to the nature of friendship where honesty, openness, forgiveness and acceptance of each other are qualities these characters apparently have forgotten for 25 years enduring the “miseries” of their life.
The nature of death and its rejuvenating qualities is examined.
While there are both positives and negatives to “Re-Uniting” the quality acting makes this movie worth a watch. Impressive soundtrack.
The film will be screening at Whistler Film Festival (British Columbia) on 3December2023. Virtual screening will follow on December 4th.
Written and directed by Laura Adkin.
RKS 2023 Film Rating 73/100.
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