Martin & Orloff

There is a useful directness to Martin & Orloff, a comedy shaped by Lawrence Blume with a firm understanding of its audience. In Martin & Orloff, Ian Roberts provides the anchor while Matt Walsh introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Martin & Orloff opens from this situation: Martin tried to kill himself. The resulting its 1h 27m running time feels most convincing whenever Martin & Orloff trusts behaviour more than explanation.

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The plot of Martin & Orloff is built around the uneasy relationship between Martin and Dr Orloff. For Ian Roberts, that relationship gives Martin & Orloff an emotional objective stronger than simple forward motion. The screenplay associated with Matt Walsh lets the central character reshape the direction of Martin & Orloff in stages. Although the treatment of an important relationship could be sharper, Martin & Orloff never entirely loses the thread established at the beginning.

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What keeps Martin & Orloff emotionally readable is Ian Roberts, whose choices establish a consistent point of view. In scenes with Matt Walsh, Martin & Orloff gains tension from two performers refusing to produce the same kind of energy. H. Jon Benjamin contributes a separate rhythm to Martin & Orloff and helps the supporting material feel less purely functional. The direction by Lawrence Blume gives the cast of Martin & Orloff room to connect the quieter beats with the larger ones.

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The craft of Martin & Orloff is defined by comic timing built around character, supported by comic timing built around character rather than overwhelmed by decoration. Tashmoo Productions gives Martin & Orloff a production framework in which well judged reactions can remain connected to story. Made from a United States production context, Martin & Orloff uses setting and design to clarify mood before dialogue has to explain it. The technical finish of Martin & Orloff works because image, sound and editing appear to be serving the same immediate purpose.

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Lawrence Blume gives Martin & Orloff a directorial line that is alive in individual scenes and uncertain between them from its opening promise to its final movement. The staging of Martin & Orloff is strongest when Lawrence Blume allows motivation to determine pace instead of reversing that priority. Viewed as a complete piece, Martin & Orloff confirms that the cast and craft keep the experience watchable across most of the running time. A tighter version of Martin & Orloff would address how too many scenes explain effects the actors have already suggested, yet the surrounding work remains persuasive.

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Martin & Orloff finds additional purpose in its examination of embarrassment, status and the gap between confidence and reality. Through the performance of Ian Roberts, Martin & Orloff makes that examination feel personal before it becomes broadly symbolic. The idea of Martin repeatedly returns Martin & Orloff to the cost behind its more visible developments. Lawrence Blume is most persuasive when Martin & Orloff allows the theme to emerge from an uncomfortable choice rather than polished dialogue.

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Martin & Orloff ends as an uneven film with enough personality to remain interesting, especially for comedy fans who respond to personality and timing. What remains from Martin & Orloff is the relationship between Ian Roberts, comic timing built around character and Lawrence Blume's control of mood. The weakness that too many scenes explain effects the actors have already suggested narrows the impact of Martin & Orloff without cancelling its better work. On balance, Martin & Orloff gives its intended viewers a distinctive experience rather than a completely anonymous piece of content.