I couldn’t help but think about my own relationship while watching Peter Blackmann’s short film Stalled Love, in that sometimes the best laid plans blow up in our face. I’ve had more than a few surprise romantic gestures backfire, but of course in the end they always work out. Unlike the film however, my girlfriend is a loving and caring human being, whereas Sarah Nadeau’s character of Lori is a terrible monster and doesn’t deserve to be in a relationship.
The film begins with an argument between a couple that leads into the bathroom of a bar. We find out that Lori believes that her boyfriend Eddie, played by Steve Theiss, was hitting on a young woman right in front of her. After a few minutes of arguing, we come to discover Eddie had ulterior motives the entire time, and Lori must set aside her insecurities and believe what she knows to be true.
Aside from the first minute or so outside the bathroom, the entire 11-minute short takes place within the small bathroom, Lori in one stall and Eddie in the other, hence the title. This location lends itself nicely to the story and provides an interesting and comical backdrop for the rapid-fire conversation that takes place.
Most of the comedic bits don’t really hit too hard, and nothing is laugh out loud funny, but there’s still a quirky charm in the story that makes it entertaining. The script is well written and the performances are passable, with Theiss carrying the brunt of the comedic weight fairly handily.
The biggest problem with the film is the character of Lori and how awful she is. I was on board during the argument, but even after things cool down she still treats Eddie like dirt, making me feel disconnected from what it supposed to be something nice and heartwarming. If I were in that situation I would have probably just realized this was all a huge mistake and be grateful that I just dodged a bullet that could have made me miserable for the rest of my life. It would have been more effective to see Lori have a shift in her demeanor after the big reveal, and then the two can skip off happily into the sunset, but that doesn’t happen. She was horrible in the beginning and she was horrible in the end.
Lori bashing aside, Stalled Love is still a fun, bite-sized romcom that gets in, does its business, and leaves, not unlike the film’s setting. The dialogue is sharp and enjoyable, and I found myself surprisingly invested into how everything was going to play out. Unfortunately I give this relationship about as long as the film’s runtime, but I guess we’ll have to wait for the sequel to find out.
