Rank humiliation doesn't get much redder faced than the opening scenes of Alex Holdridge's engaging romantic comedy.
LA slacker Wilson (McNairy) is photoshopping the face of his flatmate's girlfriend onto the naked torso of a centrefold.
He then proceeds to, ahem, manually engage in sexual fulfilment...when his pal walks in and catches him mid-stroke.
He also catches sight of his paramour's face on the computer screen...and then calls her in to witness Wilson's abject embarrassment reaching fire engine red on the Dulux colour chart.
It's a cracking beginning...and although nothing that follows quite matches it for comic value this is still a beguilingly bittersweet rom-com.
After his solo routine is brought to a halt, Wilson is persuaded to post a personal on the lonely hearts section of Craig's List.
Enter blind date Vivian (Simmonds), a chainsmoking, razor-tongued blonde who seems to revel in Wilson's unhappy state as a wannabe scriptwriter out of his depth in the City of Angels.
Wandering aimlessly through the peeling grandeur of downtown LA, their verbal sparring leads to a lowering of emotional barriers and an awkward connection.
This plays like a Californian version of director Richard Linklater's Before Sunset, with a likeable cast making a mockery of the micro budget.
It's immensely assured film-making with Holdrige calling in favours from obliging buddies and utilising makeshift locations, including his own flat.
In search of a romantic fix? You could do a lot worse than this.
Tim Evans
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