| Advanced Chemistry is a romantic comedy / comedy of errors. The premise suggests science fiction, a genre that typically can’t be done well with a miniscule budget. While the film does do well with its limited means, the biochemistry plot is too stupid for the movie to overcome. The resulting side effects of the experimental drugs lead to hilarity for some but only if you fall on the right side of ridiculous, which it does not for me. | | 2023
Directed by: Etana Jacobson
Screenplay by: Alec Moore
Starring: Samba Schutte, Chaunte Wayans
|
The movie really starts in the lab. Allen (Samba Schutte) is a scientist working in a very small lab on a physical attraction drug for voles (yes, the rodent). His one co-worker, Lisa (Kiran Deol), is already on to field tests on humans with her balancing drug. Within the film’s production means, this does have to be a small lab, work that nobody else takes seriously because otherwise it would be done at a well-funded lab. So the ridiculousness of the whole set-up does actually work. We just have to ignore the early character interactions – on a personal basis, Lisa and Allen get along, they just compete professionally. In reality, that would be opposite. But this movie does not take place in reality at all.
Most of the characters populating this world are really great. Allen’s a good lead; Samba Schutte got the balance of lab smart guy but social moron spot on, and keeps Allen on the right side of funny. Allen’s best friend is one of the better characters you’ll ever meet in a romantic comedy. Marcia (Chaunte Wayans) is a lesbian who just can’t help it that every woman she meets is a formerly straight girl who falls for her. She also can’t help it that she has to have sex with all of them despite being married to Sarah (Sarah Burns).
The dialogue is good and the two leads are great. Both Schutte and Wayans have great line delivery and comic timing and always keep their characters on the right side of funny.
Marcia’s problems with monogamy lead to using Allen’s drug on her, which leads to using it on Sarah which leads to other drugs accidentally being taken, which leads to Lisa’s drug, meanwhile romantic entanglements involving character in the movie. It plays into the comedy of errors genre in a very big way, which is probably smart since there is a whole lot of stupid going on in the plot.
There is a lot of comedy to be found, so some viewers will find this very funny if you can maintain your suspension of disbelief. For the rest of us, it falls on the wrong side of ridiculous. Advanced Chemistry is well made for their limited means, the low budget is not much of a hindrance and most of the acting is really good. Chaunte Wayans is such a stand-out that she needs to parlay her talents (and even this character) into better things.
|
