Rick

There is a useful directness to Rick, a comedy shaped by Curtiss Clayton with a firm understanding of its audience. In Rick, Bill Pullman provides the anchor while Aaron Stanford introduces a contrasting energy. Without revealing later complications, Rick opens from this situation: Rick, an NYC ad exec, disrespects a woman at a job interview. The resulting its 1h 40m running time feels most convincing whenever Rick trusts behaviour more than explanation.

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The narrative of Rick works from a simple but productive collision between Rick and NYC. Through Bill Pullman, Rick keeps that premise rooted in a reaction the audience can understand. Daniel Handler introduces the central character at a useful point, giving Rick a reason to change pace without abandoning its emotional line. The handling of an important relationship is not equally fresh, yet Rick usually earns attention through clarity rather than surprise alone.

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As director of Rick, Curtiss Clayton proves alive in individual scenes and uncertain between them in the transitions between intimate material and larger demands. A strong scene in Rick often begins with a modest detail before Curtiss Clayton lets its meaning expand. For Rick, the cast and craft keep the experience watchable because the central tone remains visible even during busy passages. The weakness in Rick is that too many scenes explain effects the actors have already suggested, although Curtiss Clayton usually finds the original rhythm again.

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Performance is the clearest human asset in Rick, beginning with the committed centre provided by Bill Pullman. Aaron Stanford keeps Rick from settling into one emotional register by approaching the material from another angle. The presence of Agnes Bruckner gives the surrounding world of Rick additional texture without distracting from the main line. When Curtiss Clayton holds on a reaction, Rick communicates more efficiently than another explanatory exchange could manage.

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Rick uses its comedy framework to consider embarrassment, status and the gap between confidence and reality. For the character played by Bill Pullman, that idea gives Rick stakes beyond the next immediate obstacle. The recurring pressure of NYC prevents the theme in Rick from feeling like decoration added after the story. Curtiss Clayton makes Rick more thoughtful whenever the implications remain inside action and reaction.

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Rick gains much of its identity from comic timing built around character, a choice that makes the world readable as well as attractive. The contribution of Big Boss LLC allows Rick to combine comic timing built around character with a consistent visual language. Within its United States setting, Rick makes particularly good use of well judged reactions when the story needs to change scale. Sound and editing preserve the personality of Rick by supporting detail instead of announcing every intended response.

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The lasting judgement on Rick is an uneven film with enough personality to remain interesting for comedy fans who respond to personality and timing. Rick earns that response through the focus of Bill Pullman, the contribution of comic timing built around character and the direction of Curtiss Clayton. It remains true that too many scenes explain effects the actors have already suggested during Rick, which keeps enthusiasm measured. Still, Rick understands the experience it wants to create and communicates that intention with recognisable personality.