LAAPFF Review: ‘Staycation’ (2018), dir. Tanuj Chopra
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Staycation film poster.
Staycation opens on a handjob. Or was it a blowjob? Rest assured that it probably doesn’t matter which it was, since by the end of the film millenial couple Luke (Anthony Ma) and Peggy (Grace Su) do so many lewd acts with one another that it’s hard to keep track (the best of which is their Blair Witch Project porn parody). Staycation is all about the two of them having fun, but the film doesn’t limit itself to just sex. We follow them throughout their day as they order phone takeout, use the bathroom, walk around downtown LA, and get lit.
Story-wise, Staycation isn’t very strong. It mostly follows a day in the life of this couple, whose vulgar ways of having fun take up a majority of the runtime. Save the interesting spinning camera movements and obvious lack of breaking the fourth wall, Staycation could very well act as a funny R-rated vlog. But dig a little deeper and there might be something still.
While Luke and Peggy’s relationship seems to be rock-solid (after all, what troubled couple has that much sex in a day?), there’s a sense of emptiness between the two of them. Physical pleasure can only do so much—there has to be a mental connection as well. Once Luke finds a dick pic (that’s not his) on Peggy’s phone, doubt starts to grow in his mind until it reaches a breaking point in the end. Peggy feels Luke starts to slip away, but can’t do much about it despite her best efforts. By the end of the 61 minute film there’s a sense that that couple at the beginning has completely ceased to exist. That’s what makes this film seem so special—director Tanuj Chopra lets you into the two lead characters’ heads and all of the swirling psychosis that they’re feeling. And all the while, he’s having a lot of fun doing it.
Staycation succeeds in portraying young, distrustful, and fleeting love with biting realness… and it’s a film that’s definitely not for the prudish.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Film Links: IMDb | Facebook | Twitter
Li-Wei Chu is the chief editor of From the Intercom. When he’s not editing drafts and searching for new artists to cover for the website, he loves watching cult films, cooking, and listening to his ever-growing collection of vinyl records. You can follow him on LetterBoxd and make fun of his taste in movies here!
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