MOVIE REVIEW: ’50K And A Call Girl, A Love Story’

Film: 50K And A Call Girl, A Love Story
Starring: Ross Patterson, Jesse Wiseman, Seth Grossman
Director: Seth Grossman
Writers: Seth Grossman, Ross Patterson

Before I review this film there are some things you should know about me that heavily affected my opinion of 50k And A Call Girl, A Love Story (henceforth known as 50k because that is a lot to type out every time). For the last few years I have been battling a medical condition that is not quite a terminal brain tumor (which is what the sick guy in 50K has) but is nonetheless quite debilitating and a bit life-threatening. This means that 50K hit me harder than a truck full of dynamite that was also on fire. My review may be biased as a result, but I will try to remain as objective as possible anyway.

50k And A Call Girl, A Love Story is a mockumentary drama about a guy named Ross who is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor that will kill him within the next couple months. Documented by his best friend and brother, Seth, Ross makes a “Fuck It List” (a play on a Bucket List) which includes things like going skydiving and taking mushrooms at Joshua Tree. Seth finances this adventure with the money set aside for his wedding so his fiancee, Lauren, tags along as it is her money as well. Not wanting to be a third wheel the whole time, Ross decides to bring along a call girl named Carly with him and soon realizes he has feelings for her as his life begins to race towards its inevitable conclusion.

Found footage style films are all the rage these days and the mockumentary style 50k falls into that category. However, unlike most horror movies that use first person camera work as a gimmick, 50K uses it to make the story become more believable. I had to check whether or not this was an actual documentary or not after watching, and that is a huge accomplishment. It truly felt like these characters were real, creating sympathy instead of empathy. We have all had a friend that has had to deal with some awful shit at some point or another and the way the story was presented here made this struggle feel raw and real.

It is not all just a downer, though. Most of the film is lighthearted and uplifting. The way that the impending death is dealt with makes you forget that it is coming. A good portion of 50K is just some buddies on a road trip. Mixed in with these fun scenes are moments of weakness from people dealing with someone important facing death and it will rip your heart right out of your body. All of this is framed by a very unconventional but still heartwarming love story (duh, it is right in the title) that never seems cliched or forced. 50K is one of the most natural movies I have seen in years.

50K And A Call Girl, A Love Story is advertised as “featuring Asher Roth.” This could definitely scare some people away as he is not an actor and that seems like a weird way to attract viewers for the sake of publicity. Honestly, though, Roth is barely in the film at all, only making a cameo near the end of the film at a gigantic college party. The only other thing that could be considered a weak point of the film is the Lauren character. She is less believable than the rest of the cast, but with everything that happens and how well everyone else portrays their characters you hardly will notice her shortcomings.

Not only is 50K And A Call Girl, A Love Story a great addition to the mockumentary genre, it is a very refreshing take on a romantic comedy that presents a group of people’s struggle with the imminent death of a close friend in a realistic and bittersweet manner. You can see the movie right now on VOD, so go ahead and stay in next time it snows and give this film a watch, you will not be disappointed.

Score: A-

Review written by: Justin Proper

Both comments and pings are currently closed.

One Response to “MOVIE REVIEW: ’50K And A Call Girl, A Love Story’”

  1. jusboutded says:

    the first thing the sick person in this film does is to steal a comfort dog from the childrens ward of a hospital. the second thing is to declare loudly, that he wants to “fuck a hooker”. now you know the intellectual and spiritual level of the people portrayed herein. no one here has escaped from their spoiled childhoods. neither the dying man nor his brother seem to have the slightest inkling of how to try to understand life, or to love someone other than by indulging themselves, spending money, and having a frat party. i can feel sorry for them, living or dying, but without any worthwhile qualities to offer, i found it impossible to care.