A Genuine Treat of Entertainment that Will Leave You Beaming from Ear to Ear.
Having physical limitations, I seldom get a chance to have cinematic experiences and I don't regret that. However, 'Standing Up for Sunny' (2019) is a movie that I wish I had watched in the cinema. This light and cute inspiring rom-com completely absorbed me in its beautiful plot, dialogues, comedy, characters. All three major characters did justice to their roles.
In "Standing Up for Sunny", RJ Mitte plays the role of Travis, a socially isolated and perpetually grumpy individual living with cerebral palsy. Travis harbors a significant grievance against the world. He resides alone until an unexpected roommate named Gordo (Italia Hunt), who is visually impaired, appears. This forces Travis to engage with the world around him. Reluctantly, Gordo drags Travis to a pub, where they witness Sunny (Philippa Northeast) performing a stand-up routine. During her act, a heckler interrupts with offensive sexist remarks, throwing Sunny off. Fueled by a few drinks, Travis intervenes, voicing his anger at the heckler for interrupting Sunny. The crowd finds his retorts hilarious. After the gig, Sunny's boyfriend, radio DJ Mikey (Sam Reid), asks Travis to help teach Sunny how to stand up for herself. Seeing this as a chance to earn extra money and get Gordo out of their shared apartment, Travis reluctantly agrees.
In contrast to its plot-heavy synopsis, Steve Vidler's latest film, Standing Up for Sunny, stands as a joyous and hilarious cinematic experience. RJ Mitte and Philippa Northeast shine as natural comedic talents, exhibiting effortless timing and an undeniable chemistry, making their dual lead performances a delight to behold.
Similarly, Northeast's natural comfort in front of the camera allows her to effortlessly portray Sunny, an engaging, endearing, and entertaining character.
As Sunny and Travis bond, they find commonality with their own difficulties in life. For some, the immediacy of Sunny being open to Travis about her bulimia may feel a bit too sudden, but given the level of openness that Travis has when it comes to living with a disability, it’s understandable that Sunny would find comfort in that and allow herself to be open with a relative stranger. Again, it’s the commitment that both RJ Mitte and Philippa Northeast have to their roles that this emerging relationship feels effortless and natural.
With a wealth of rom-com tropes on board, such as the will-they-won’t-they tightrope and the shitty partner, it’s wonderful to see two lead actors give performances where you actually want their characters to get together. It takes a great director and writer to be able to make the familiar feel new, and with Steve Vidler’s finely tuned script and superb direction, these well-worn narrative beats carry a freshness and vibrancy to them.
Standing Up for Sunny shines with exceptional comedic performances, especially from newcomer Italia Hunt. Hunt's enchanting portrayal of Gordo, armed with a ukulele, provides a warm and lively contrast to Travis's grumpiness. Sam Reid's Mikey, while the film's 'villain,' is not a stereotypical jerk. His relatability as a genuine romantic possibility makes the eventual romance between Travis and Sunny feel more grounded and believable. Unlike many movies where douchebag boyfriends are immediately unlikable, Mikey is a convincing 'nice guy,' and Reid's empathetic portrayal illustrates why Sunny would have initially fallen for him.
"Standing Up for Sunny," is a must-watch, featuring pitch-perfect performances from RJ Mitte and Philppa Northeast and a genuinely hilarious script. Mitte's comedic talent is truly wasted, and he deserves more opportunities as a romantic lead. It's refreshing to see a film that gives people with disabilities the chance to shine and be seen as funny and relatable. This is a rare gem that shines brightly among so many others, and I highly recommend it. Trust me, you will love this film too.
Director: Steve Vidler
Cast: RJ Mitte, Philippa Northeast, Italia Hunt
Writer: Steve Vidler
WATCH FULL MOVIE HERE.