SIFF Capsule Review: A less good but still good Obvious Child which reunites director Gillian Robespierre with star Jenny Slate, Landline is an entertaining if less memorable dramedy about two sisters who discover their father (John Turturro) has been cheating on their mother (Edie Falco).
Slate is top notch once again, but the entire cast, including Slate’s lookalike Abby Quinn, clicks in a way that makes Robespierre’s screenplay feel utterly believable. Turturro unfortunately isn’t given as much to do as his female costars, but Falco is stellar.
Landline’s main drawback is that it simply doesn’t have the hook that Obvious Child–about a single, female comedian who contemplates an abortion–that implants itself in your memory. But Landline is a grounded, enjoyable and easy-to-watch movie that deserves more attention than it will likely receive.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.