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RATING:   
SINGAPORE : It could have been a Paul Rudd/Jason Segal bromantic comedy, or a toilet humour-laden Judd Apatow raunch-com. It could also have been a cheap gag about two straight dudes making gay porn - which you'd be mistaken to think it is.
Director-writer Lynn Shelton, in her upward journey as the new super-insightful indie director, has uncannily captured the very essence of male bonding, bluster and friendship in Humpday - the winner of this year's Sundance's Special Jury Prize. All this from a woman no less.
Newlywed Ben (Mark Duplass) seems to be contentedly going through life's expected milestones - marriage, property, prepping for kids - till his college best friend Andrew (Joshua Leonard), who has been travelling the world "doing the Kerouac thing" shows up unannounced at his front door.
During an attempt to out-do each other and a bunch of free-thinking artistic types while under the influence, Ben and Andrew come up with the idea of making a film with each other for Hump Fest, an amateur porn festival.
They embark on this outrageous "art project" in the name of friendship and high art. The real reason seems to be competition.
In an unassuming, almost disinterested way, Shelton's use of seemingly improvised, overlapping dialogue, natural performances and a home-video feel is the newly dubbed "mumblecore" indie genre at it's best, getting the very details and idiosyncrasies of the Straight Male Friendship uncomfortably right.
From macho posturing, to constant one-upmanship and self-denial, Shelton's characters connect simply because they could be your friends. Or you. The horror.
And as it all culminates in the supremely hilarious and fearless third act, "Humpday" reaches its zenith - awkwardness, risque ambiguity and potential sexual repression all coming together in one claustrophobic motel room.
An honest, funny and very real study of human nature and relationships. Rated R21, of course.
- TODAY/rs
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