Greg & Gentillon

A spoiler light review of Greg & Gentillon should begin with tone, because Matthiew Klinck understands exactly how this comedy ought to feel. Greg & Gentillon gains early credibility from Louis Durand, whose presence is balanced by the different rhythm of Thomas Michael. The foundation of Greg & Gentillon can be stated simply: Two small time comics set their sights on the big city with a plan to become the next stand up sensation, only to find out just how far one can fall when the bottom of the barrel drops out. Within its 1h 25m running time, Greg & Gentillon reveals both the benefits and the limits of that disciplined approach.

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Performance is the clearest human asset in Greg & Gentillon, beginning with the committed centre provided by Louis Durand. Thomas Michael keeps Greg & Gentillon from settling into one emotional register by approaching the material from another angle. The presence of Paolo Mancini gives the surrounding world of Greg & Gentillon additional texture without distracting from the main line. When Matthiew Klinck holds on a reaction, Greg & Gentillon communicates more efficiently than another explanatory exchange could manage.

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A close look at Greg & Gentillon reveals how well judged reactions carries information that the dialogue wisely leaves alone. Under the production banner of Fella Films, Greg & Gentillon treats well judged reactions as part of its storytelling grammar. Performer rhythm gives Greg & Gentillon a stronger sense of place within its Canada context. The technical departments of Greg & Gentillon remain coordinated, so polish supports involvement instead of creating distance.

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In Greg & Gentillon, Matthiew Klinck directs with a manner that is engaging in bursts but unable to maintain the same control rather than eager to prove itself. Scenes in Greg & Gentillon gain weight when Matthiew Klinck holds attention on a decision instead of hurrying toward its result. Worthwhile ideas compete with an uneven structure for Greg & Gentillon, since the film keeps returning to its clearest dramatic priorities. The caveat is that Greg & Gentillon occasionally reveals how the pace alternates between hurry and drift, which slightly weakens the build.

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Rather than summarise every event in Greg & Gentillon, it is enough to note how the central character places an important relationship under growing pressure. Louis Durand gives that tension a face, which stops Greg & Gentillon from becoming a mechanical sequence of developments. Louis Durand uses a difficult choice to widen the stakes of Greg & Gentillon without losing sight of the original problem. Where the wider conflict becomes predictable, Greg & Gentillon recovers interest through the consequences surrounding it.

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What Greg & Gentillon has to say is rooted in embarrassment, status and the gap between confidence and reality. The experience of Louis Durand carries that question through Greg & Gentillon without reducing the character to an example. The wider conflict helps Greg & Gentillon test the theme through consequence instead of explanation. When Matthiew Klinck allows ambiguity to remain, Greg & Gentillon becomes more involving than a simple statement of intent.

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Overall, Greg & Gentillon amounts to a qualified recommendation and should suit comedy fans who respond to personality and timing. The combination of Louis Durand, Matthiew Klinck and well judged reactions gives Greg & Gentillon a specific identity. Although the pace alternates between hurry and drift in Greg & Gentillon, the film recovers through craft and committed performance. For the audience it understands, Greg & Gentillon offers enough character to remain worthwhile after the immediate plot has faded.