- Starring
- Kelley Kali, Wesley Moss, Deon Cole
- Writers
- Kelley Kali, Roma Kong, Angelique Molina
- Directors
- Kelley Kali, Angelique Molina
- Rating
- n/a
- Running Time
- 90 minutes
- Release Date
- n/a
Overall Score
Rating Summary
This will be one of many reviews during this year’s SXSW Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.
Still being in the midst of a pandemic, it’s only fitting to have another film set during the pandemic. Pandemic or not, life is hard but it will certainly not help either though that goes without saying. Since the beginning of film, there have been films about life being hard and I’m Fine Thanks For Asking is no different for better or worse. Other than its setting, this film brings nothing new to the table while the circumstances behind its production (i.e. being filmed during the pandemic) further limit what it can do which can make it more of a chore to watch. Suffering from a repetitive plot and threads that never quite come together in a satisfying way, the film succeeds or fails based on the audience’s ability to connect with the main character. The story follows Danny (Kali), a recently widowed mother who was now homeless and living in a tent on the side of the road with her 8-year-old daughter Wes (Moss). Shielding her from the sad truth of their circumstances, Danny worked hard to finally get them off the streets.
When it comes to I’m Fine Thanks For Asking, that’s pretty much it. With the focus being Danny’s grinding to get off the street, any other issues get lost in the shuffle. The lack of anything truly new or exciting over the course of its 90 minute running time is sure to make it hard to watch for some. Suffice it to say that those who can connect with Danny and her bond with her daughter will find the most enjoyment out of this but for the most part, the lack of stakes make it hard to care about anything that happens here. It seemingly goes out of its way to show that life is hard without ever providing much of a foundation for it. Nevertheless, a solid performance from Kali (who also co-wrote and co-directed the film) as Danny makes it at least watchable.
In the end, I’m Fine Thanks For Asking is just another middle of the road indie drama that fails to stand out above the rest.
still courtesy of SXSW
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The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.