A smart and sweet riff through “Grease,” “Footloose,” “High School Musical” and scads of other upbeat, teen-skewing entertainments, “Best Summer Ever” greatly impress with its deft balance of affectionate homage and exuberant inclusivity. Working from a peppy screenplay they co-wrote with Will Halby, Andrew Pilkington and Terra Mackintosh, directors Michael Parks Randa and Lauren Smitelli keep the mood so beguilingly light and bright, even during brief romantic setbacks, that it’s remarkably easy to suspend disbelief and gratefully delight in a world where racial divides and ableist prejudices are nonexistent, and just about the only negative stereotype on view is a mean-girl cheerleader.
The all-embracing attitude that propels “Best Summer Ever” is on full display right from the start. It’s the last day of the season at Lakeview Dance Camp, as young sweethearts Sage (Shannon DeVido), who uses a wheelchair, and her football-player boyfriend Tony (Ricky Wilson Jr.) lead...
The all-embracing attitude that propels “Best Summer Ever” is on full display right from the start. It’s the last day of the season at Lakeview Dance Camp, as young sweethearts Sage (Shannon DeVido), who uses a wheelchair, and her football-player boyfriend Tony (Ricky Wilson Jr.) lead...
- 4/29/2021
- by Joe Leydon
- Variety Film + TV
"How 'bout we just go off somewhere together?" Freestyle Digital Media has released the official trailer for an indie romance musical titled Best Summer Ever. This originally premiered last year at the Martha's Vineyard Film Festival, and also stopped by the Portland, Heartland, and Maui Film Festivals. A fresh and exhilarating take on the beloved teen musical genre featuring eight original songs and a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities. Sage (Shannon DeVido) and Anthony have the "Best Summer Ever" and fall in love at a dance camp. Not expecting to see each other again until the following summer, Sage, by a twist of fate, arrives unexpectedly at the exact same high school as Anthony. Now they must navigate volatile high school life and hope their love remains. Also starring Jacob Waltuck, MuMu, Holly Palmer, Ajani A.J. Murray, Emily Kranking, with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard,...
- 4/15/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The ReelAbilities Film Festival is set to open with Michael Parks Randa and Lauren Smitelli’s inclusive musical romancer Best Summer Ever, executive produced by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ted Danson, Amy Brenneman, and Mary Steenburgen.
Gyllenhaal, Sarsgaard and Benjamin Bratt have cameo roles in the feature shot with a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities and which bowed at SXSW. Best Summer Ever, which also stars Shannon DeVido, Ricky Wilson Jr., MuMu, Jacob Waltuck, Emily Kranking, Ajani “Aj” Murray, Eileen Grubba and Holly Palmer, will screen on April 29 at the Queens Drive-In.
And ...
Gyllenhaal, Sarsgaard and Benjamin Bratt have cameo roles in the feature shot with a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities and which bowed at SXSW. Best Summer Ever, which also stars Shannon DeVido, Ricky Wilson Jr., MuMu, Jacob Waltuck, Emily Kranking, Ajani “Aj” Murray, Eileen Grubba and Holly Palmer, will screen on April 29 at the Queens Drive-In.
And ...
- 3/31/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The ReelAbilities Film Festival is set to open with Michael Parks Randa and Lauren Smitelli’s inclusive musical romancer Best Summer Ever, executive produced by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ted Danson, Amy Brenneman, and Mary Steenburgen.
Gyllenhaal, Sarsgaard and Benjamin Bratt have cameo roles in the feature shot with a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities and which bowed at SXSW. Best Summer Ever, which also stars Shannon DeVido, Ricky Wilson Jr., MuMu, Jacob Waltuck, Emily Kranking, Ajani “Aj” Murray, Eileen Grubba and Holly Palmer, will screen on April 29 at the Queens Drive-In.
And ...
Gyllenhaal, Sarsgaard and Benjamin Bratt have cameo roles in the feature shot with a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities and which bowed at SXSW. Best Summer Ever, which also stars Shannon DeVido, Ricky Wilson Jr., MuMu, Jacob Waltuck, Emily Kranking, Ajani “Aj” Murray, Eileen Grubba and Holly Palmer, will screen on April 29 at the Queens Drive-In.
And ...
- 3/31/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In today’s film news roundup, Kumail Nanjiani has been cast as a journalist, Daisy Ridley boards Imax’s “Asteroid Hunters,” “Best Summer Ever” leads off a festival, Shelley Duvall gets an honor and “Dark Harvest” lands at MGM.
Project Launch
Kumail Nanjiani will star in the political thriller “The Independent,” which is being introduced to buyers by The Exchange at the Berlin Film Festival.
He will portray a journalist who uncovers a conspiracy, which places the fate of the election in his hands with America’s first viable independent presidential candidate poised for victory.
“Kumail is a great actor with global recognition and he serves as the cornerstone for an incredible ensemble cast that we are excited to announce shortly,” said Brian O’Shea of The Exchange.
Amy Rice, who was nominated for an Emmy for “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama,” is directing “The Independent” from a script by Evan Parter.
Project Launch
Kumail Nanjiani will star in the political thriller “The Independent,” which is being introduced to buyers by The Exchange at the Berlin Film Festival.
He will portray a journalist who uncovers a conspiracy, which places the fate of the election in his hands with America’s first viable independent presidential candidate poised for victory.
“Kumail is a great actor with global recognition and he serves as the cornerstone for an incredible ensemble cast that we are excited to announce shortly,” said Brian O’Shea of The Exchange.
Amy Rice, who was nominated for an Emmy for “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama,” is directing “The Independent” from a script by Evan Parter.
- 2/22/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
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