Banana Split (directed by Benjamin Kasulke whose work I’ve enjoyed in two other films: Laggies and Safety Not Guaranteed) is a tasty new film written by the lead actress Hannah Marks and creative partner Joey Powers.
While the plot’s been done before (even in my own life) in that two young women vie for the same man, Marks and Powers make it seem fresh with a combo of witty dialogue, a cutesie soundtracked grouping of montages in places where we’d normally roll our eyes, and super qualified and likeable actors.
Hannah Marks herself has a face you might see shopping at Publix, yet, her chocolate brown eyes and full lips are quite evocative. Likewise, the man-boy in question is Dylan Sprouse, a pre-Fabio sweet face, as is a Basinger in her twenties hottie Liana Liberato. For comic relief, jester red head Luke Spencer Roberts has the perfect rubbery mouth to make us laugh and care, and a tiny mighty mouse to be reckoned with is Addison Riecke, who I predict could be a future SNL comedian.
Very similar to Book Smart in themes, Banana Split isn’t quiet as intelligent. Party scenes downplay the negative effects of alcohol, a pet peeve of mine. But on a Covd19 Friday evening, the film was a fun watch.
