On the Count of Three is the tale of two lifelong best friends who decide to end their suffering once and for all, and kill themselves. Labeled as a "dramedy" it's a solid attempt at finding some humor to such a dark topic. Yet the question remains...does it work? I think it's a step in the right direction, but there's much to be desired.
The tone is really where most of the faults lie. I don't think you can ever truly make suicide "funny." Bit of jokes are tossed throughout the movie, but the film is so stern it feels inappropriate to laugh at them. It also doesn't help that the chemistry between our two leads is a little stale. Despite being lifelong best friends, I never felt they cared about one another (or had anything in common, except being depressed.) Sure you see it in the film (with one life-saving scene after another) but to me it felt like damage control from the screenwriters to make up for the shoddy dialogue between them.
There was also too much plot for this film. I'd think killing oneself would be plot enough, but they go on a few goose chases to right their wrongs as well. (Not atypical, but the movie is under 90 minutes, so of course, it's rushed.) Thus the film actually doesn't end up saying anything extraordinary.
All in all: an interesting premise, an average execution. Not bad for a debut, but left me stolid.
The tone is really where most of the faults lie. I don't think you can ever truly make suicide "funny." Bit of jokes are tossed throughout the movie, but the film is so stern it feels inappropriate to laugh at them. It also doesn't help that the chemistry between our two leads is a little stale. Despite being lifelong best friends, I never felt they cared about one another (or had anything in common, except being depressed.) Sure you see it in the film (with one life-saving scene after another) but to me it felt like damage control from the screenwriters to make up for the shoddy dialogue between them.
There was also too much plot for this film. I'd think killing oneself would be plot enough, but they go on a few goose chases to right their wrongs as well. (Not atypical, but the movie is under 90 minutes, so of course, it's rushed.) Thus the film actually doesn't end up saying anything extraordinary.
All in all: an interesting premise, an average execution. Not bad for a debut, but left me stolid.