Taking a few pages out of scripts of the 70’s and 80’s the movie Hard Sell opens in theaters this weekend. It’s a fun romp that’s aimed straight at teens to mid-twenties, but more for those who remember films like Weird Science, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and many cool films by John Hughes. This low budget attempt however, serves more as a coming out for rising talent rather than an energetic comedy/melodrama. It does have a few words of wisdom attached that may hit home with our modern day youth, but not much more.
Lorna Buchanan (Kristin Chenoweth) has had a hard life. Unfortunately she’s carried it on during her son Hardy’s (Skyler Gisondo) formidable years making it a tough road for the struggling teen. Now a senior at Sprit Academy, a prep school where he won a science scholarship, he’s wondering what he can do to help his mother get out of her slump. On top of it all, their dog Walter needs an operation and the $10,000 would break their bank. With college the next step in Hardy’s life, the future is looking very dim.
At a homeless shelter where he volunteers he meets Bo (Katrina Bowden) a beautiful twenty-something woman who doesn’t appear to be down and out. She tells Hardy she’s a stripper and he laughs it off. About that time one of the workers takes Bo aside and tells her that an elderly gentleman has been asking around about her. Worried, she convinces Hardy to let her sleep at his house for the night. When his mother notices some changes in Hardy, she becomes hopeful that things with turn out for the best.
So begins a wild money making scheme involving Bo who gives sex advice and shows her breasts to the male students at the academy. First time Director Sean Nabloff puts his novice actors through their paces working them into some “improper” situations. His off the wall script gets very imaginative and suggestive as it moves along, but unfortunately the believable barometer drops to an unforgiving low. Also, Nabloff’s twists are easily seen coming and the overall predictability level is high.
Acting by Skyler Gisondo is actually pretty good as the kid who sees a way to a better future. He ably shows Hardy growing from a novice teenager to a scheming young man as the movie progresses. Working his fellow students for a hefty amount of money, Hardy finds himself in a very precarious game. Gisondo has had some favorable experience playing young Moe in The Three Stooges and James Griswold in 2014’s Vacation. Hopefully this lead role will help his future.
As the twenty something seductive and a little crazy Bo, Katrina Bowden is a perfect choice. She’s beautiful and not yet overly adult looking, a sure thing for 16 and 17 year olds busting out of puberty. And she really pushes her character to the limits making all the teens happy to “see” her. Bowden has been around the film and TV circuit with 99 episodes as Cerie Xerox in “30 Rock” and 10 episodes as Fortune in “Public Morals”.
Hard Sell has not been rated by the MPAA but contains language, drug use and teen drinking and smoking.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A classical teen angst film on a low budget. (C+)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Katrina Bowden, Skyler Gisondo, Kristin Chenoweth, Hannah Marks
Directed and written By: Sean Nabloff
Genre: Comedy, Drama
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, contains language, drug use, sexuality, and teen drinking and smoking
Running Time: 2 hrs.
Release Date: May 20, 2016
Distributed by: Momentum Pictures
Release Available: 2D theaters, VOD, iTunes
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
