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Britney Lost Her Phone
USA 2023
produced by Joanna Fang, Vito Trabucco, Jessica Sonneborn, Brian Milano, Christopher Maltauro, Jon Sonneborn (executive) for Maltauro Entertainment
directed by Vito Trabucco
starring Vince Cusimano, Jessica Sonneborn, Hilary Momberger-Powers, Benjamin Kauffman, Craig Stark, David Gomez, Joanna Fang, Steven J. Garcia, James Coleman, and the voice of Rosie Okumura
written by Alexander Volz, music by Michele Bettali, Stefano Carrara, Fabrizio Castania
review by Mike Haberfelner
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The Mojave Desert, 1802: The Youngmans have headed out west to find the
promised land, and at the height of Joshua Tree, Dad Youngman (Craig
Stark) has a vision, collapses and dies. The rest of the family bury him,
and now mama Youngman (Hilary Momberger-Powers) refuses to go any further,
insisting sne wouldn't leave her husband's grave. So the family's forced
to settle there - which is bad, as the seeds they've brought just won't
grow in the climate, there's o water and hardly any game. Luke (Vince
Cusimano), the younger of the two sons, soon loses it and heads back east
on his own, while the rest of the family, Mama, her older son Jeb
(Benjamin Kauffman) and Jeb's pregnant wife Maggie (Jessica Sonneborn)
choose to stick it out, despite the hopelessness of their situation. And
then Luke returns, not only with some game he has just shot but also news
of the location of a not-.too-far spring. And he has also brought a 21st
century smartphone called Britney (and voiced by Rosie Okumura) who has
the answers to all questions. Now with Britney's advice, the family soon
thrives even in the middle of the desert, but it also has its side
effects, from being plain addictive to leading down numerous rabbit holes
- and not just Luke but the whole family safe from God-fearing ma, who
thinks the phone's the Devil, despite it having literally saved their
lives after God (if there is such a thing) has abandoned them in the
desert. Jeb has probably been struck hardest of the family, as he has
discovered internet porn. Things get out of hands when the family members
start fighting over Britney, which goes so far that it's decided to
destroy the phone. Jeb agrees to do it, but then hides the phone away to
still be able to satisfy his porn addiction - and this of course doesn't
go undetected ... Of course, there are two logical flaws in Britney
Lost Her Phone - in 1802 there was no internet (heck, there wasn't
even landline phone) and there was no way to charge a phone. ... but
reducing the film to this two points would be completely missing the mark,
as this movie is quite obviously not a historical piece but really a
satire of modern life and cellphone addiction, discussing both positives
and negatives of the phenomenon in an allegorical way and delivering many
a punchline along the way. But this is by no means a gag fest either, as
the film's sative is fitted into a well-told and compelling dramacaptured
in rather beautiful images making perfect use of the impressive locations,
and a solid small ensemble really manages to carry this film that's most
certainly worth a watch,a nd for more than its crazy premise.
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