Moon Point

February 3, 2012
Reviewed by Marc Glassman

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Moon Point
Sean Cisterna, director
Robert Lazar, script
Starring: Nick McKinlay (Darryl), Kyle Mac (Femur), Paula Brancati (Kristin), Kristen Gutoskie (Sarah Cherry)

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The buzz
This Canadian Indie rom-com won the People’s Choice award at the Film North Festival. Moon Point has traveled around the festival scene, playing in Sudbury’s Cinefest and the Edmonton, Calgary and Anchorage International Film Festivals.

It’s also the first release for a new distribution company, INDIECAN Entertainment, helmed by film producer Avi Federgreen.

The genres and themes
Romantic comedy; road film; coming-of-age story

The plot and premise
Darryl, a 23 year-old “loser” decides to finally follow a dream, to travel up north to Moon Point to find his grade school crush, Sarah Cherry. Sarah is now a B movie actress and Darryl could appear as an extra in the horror film in which she’s starring. Darryl boasts to his overly confident cousin Lars that he’ll bring Sarah back for Lars’ wedding, due to take place on the weekend. Without a car or a license, Darryl convinces his best friend Femur, a paraplegic, to “drive” them in his motorized wheelchair and wagon, which can travel at 5 km. per hour.

During the very, very slow trip up north, they meet Kristin, who is in the process of breaking up with her boyfriend long-distance. The trio bond and fight and fight and bond again over the week. Lies and truths are told as they win a karaoke contest, evade a crazy Russian roulette player, attend a bizarre AA meeting and—later—a Northern Ontario “kegger” party.

Does Darryl find Sarah Cherry? Does Kristin find a new love? Does Femur learn to deal with his infirmities and get on with life?

You’ll have to see the film to find out.

The performances
The three leads are certainly Ok in their parts. None dominates or shows a “star” sparkle. Helping them along are cameos by a number of veteran Canadian actors including Art Hindle, Jayne Eastwood and Linda Kash.

The direction
Uneven. It’s hard to direct a film that moves quickly from comic moments to tough, tragic revelations—and then back again. Sean Cisterna and his cast try hard but don’t make the mood modulations work.

The skinny
It’s always impressive to see new talent in Canadian film. Most of the performers in Moon Point have worked mainly in episodic TV and this is the solo-directing debut for Cisterna. Kudos to them and to their distributor and executive producer, Federgreen.

But this film lacks the originality and oomph that makes feature films work. One can only hope that all will go onto better things in the future.