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.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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