There’s a danger in expanding short films to feature length, pretty well exemplified by the 2004 Oscar-nominated short film Cashback. As a short film it worked phenomenally, with a strong premise with precise visualization of its themes and game performances from its actors. However, when stretched out to feature length in 2006, the film suffered from having to expand its premise beyond those initial 18 minutes. As it turned out, there wasn’t much there. And unfortunately I have to report a similar problem with Jonathan Lisecki’s Gayby, a feature-length adaptation of a short, playing at this year’s Milwaukee Film Festival. What was a winning and adroitly performed bit of human comedy at 15 minutes becomes much more unwieldy and rambling at an hour and a half.
But there are pleasures to be derived from the film – the chemistry between leads Jenn Harris and Matthew Wiklas remains intact from the short film. And Lisecki is clearly a talented writer, as numerous exchanges between characters spark with genuine wit. Where it all falls apart is that in order to stretch the simple premise (single straight woman and gay best friend in their 30s decide to have a baby together – the old fashioned way) to feature length, you spend more and more time away from these characters interacting with one another and pad the film with all manner of supporting characters, whose existence is devoted solely to quippery. And while Lisecki definitely knows his way around the dialogue he wrote, his supporting character Nelson eats up far too much screen time without ever really developing a genuine character. The unintended effect feels like the clever invention of a screenwriter, firing off one-liners with extreme rapidity and determination, without being essential to the film’s forward momentum.
Which brings us back to the initial problem. Without much in the way of additional plot developments (there’s a half-hearted attempt at throwing a wrench in the works with a “whose baby is it?” storyline, but that goes nowhere fast) you’re left with the humor and heart of the original short surrounded by scenes of the character discussing the basis for the short ad nauseum. (“We’re still trying to make a baby.” “[Insert sassy one-liner].”) Credit should be given to the efforts (including crowd-funding) made toward getting this independent film made and seen by a wider audience. I just wish the effort was put toward a sturdier narrative that would’ve fleshed out the original premise. What was a short film-hit at film festivals the world over has transformed into a feature-length miss.
For tickets and showtimes for Gayby at this year’s MFF, click here.
