In her feature directorial debut, Noël Wells portrays Emily, a talented but hard-to-classify comedic performer who left behind her home and boyfriend to pursue career opportunities in L.A. When a loved one falls ill, Emily rushes back to Austin where she’s forced to stay with her ex-boyfriend (Nick Thune) and his new-and-improved girlfriend (Britt Lower), a totally together woman with a five-year plan...
[Noël] Wells spirals out from there to capture a snapshot of contemporary life in post-slacker Austin that's both spot-on specific and universally relatable.
Wells is more than just a great storyteller. She also has a fantastic cinematic eye, choosing to shoot on good old 35 mm. The warmth of celluloid is no less than a beautiful city like Austin deserves.
Wells doesn't just focus on her laugh-out-loud funny performance or insightful script: she displays a real eye for the cinematic with shot-on-film visuals that elevate her movie and lavish attention on its Texas setting.
It's a reminder that the 21st century is going to be full of coming-of-age films about 30-year-olds, and it's compelling evidence that that might be alright.
Wells makes a strong impression with "Mr. Roosevelt," showcasing smart observations, a love of cinema, and respect for the growing subgenre of people experiencing emotional meltdowns in Austin.
