This darkly humorous movie will make you laugh, cringe and feel just the tiniest bit better about your own life. Ass Backwards is Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion without the gloss and glam. If Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino had come from the wrong side of the tracks (and maybe had some sort of substance abuse problem), you would have Kate and Chloe.
I don’t want to oversimplify the hilarity of this movie, but if you did enjoy the trials and tribulations of Romy and Michele, and you want to see how things would go if the duo’s lives were a bit less like a fairy tale, you will enjoy Kate and Chloe’s journey in Ass Backwards. It’s a road trip movie starring two lovely ladies whose friendship is the heart of the film, and who happen to be ridiculous people. Ass Backwards is the perfect name for it, because it constantly throws the viewer for a loop. Nothing is as it seems, and so I’m hesitant to describe too much of the movie and ruin any of the magical twists and turns. I will say that an important part of a road trip is the music, and this particular road trip has stellar music in spades. In the hierarchy of things to consider before embarking on a road trip, it goes snacks > music > are you going to let people take their shoes off in your car?
June Diane Raphael (Kate) and Casey Wilson (Chloe) really can do anything. Not only did they write the movie together, but they starred in it and funded it through Kickstarter. One of the rewards offered was “Casey and June will call you every day for a week and read your horoscope to you!” Oh, how I wish I had seen this project when it was still getting funded. I will take this regret to my grave.
These two women are fast friends and it shows. Since moving to LA a few months ago, I’ve seen them at various comedy events around town. Their participation in The Realest Real Housewives at UCB, where they recreated famous Real Housewives scenes, remains one of the funniest things I have ever experienced (and I work at the Laugh Factory). Both women have been part of some of my favorite television projects. I knew Casey Wilson best from her starring role in Happy Endings, one of the most perfect shows of all time, and June Diane Raphael as the scene-stealing reality show contestant in Burning Love. I adore them both and so I was very excited when I saw there would be a screening of this movie near me. The only thing better than seeing a great movie is seeing a great movie free of charge.
I saw a screening at Outfest with a room packed full of exhausted people who had already seen multiple movies and were on their way to see more. I have never heard so much laughter in a theater. From the surprise reveal in the opening scene to the last of the credits, there was a constant stream of guffaws and snorts. After it ended, Casey and June came out for a Q&A, where they continued to be witty and the greatest. They were also very sweet when I approached them after the screening to confess my undying love. I’m currently planning the perfect road trip for the three of us.
You can rent Ass Backwards now on VOD and iTunes. You can see it in theaters starting November 8th. Oh, and did I mention Alicia Silverstone is in it? Because she is. Get to it!
If you want to help me plan my road trip with Casey and June or share your thoughts on Ass Backwards, I’m all about the Twitter: @emhig.
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