Lonesome Loser Scores It Big
Sunnyvale Isn't Typical Comedy

The independent films that one sees at a film festival can be as inspired as others are awful. There are three things that most independent films have in common: low budget, low production values, and mediocre acting. While many independent films struggle with drama, some take a different approach and examine things from a comedic point of view. This is the case with Sunnyvale, the story of a loser who suddenly finds himself juggling three women.

Opie (James Ricardo) is the ultimate loser until he finds himself the object of affection from three different women, including Dakota (Ute Werner), in the independent comedy Sunnyvale. (The Company Pictures, 2005)

Directed by: James Ricardo
Written by: James Ricardo
Starring: James Ricardo, April Wade, Ute Werner, and Jesselynn Desmond

Rated

Running time: 80 min.

FilmGuru's Rating : 6 out of 10.

Opie (James Ricardo) is a depressed man, addicted to food and porn. His obsession with food is grotesque, to say the least, and he appears to eat with the gusto of someone who isn't trying to stop hunger so much as one who is trying to fill a psychological need.

Into Opie's life comes Thai (April Wade), a neurotic pot-head who knocks on his door by mistake. Soon, to his surprise, he is having sex with her. Later, he is confronted by Thai's butch lesbian partner Dakota (Ute Werner) and beds her too. The resulting triangle is awkward and strange, but he continues to bed both women. Then there is Rain (Jesselynn Desmond), whom he meets on the Internet, and things get really start to get heated.

The story is a funny look at relationships, sex, and the baggage that we carry into each new encounter. In Opie's case, his situation is affected by the fact that the women in his life all know about each other. For a loser who suddenly becomes a player, Opie discovers his life has become much more complicated.

The main problem with the film is the director casting himself in the lead role. He is too good looking to be the lonesome geek that he portrays. I'll bet this guy has never even seen the inside of a comic book store or attended a Star Trek convention. The acting could be better, but for a small film it's about average. Werner, Wade, and Desmond are all good in their respective rolls, but Werner stands out for her beauty and her presence.

The film uses "chapter" breaks (in a Pulp Fiction kind of way) to introduce the different characters. For the most part, this works, although the Dakota card came in way too early.

Written, directed, and staring first-timer Ricardo, this film has some great dialog and some very funny moments. It's edgy and also a bit crude at times. The lines that come out of his mouth sound more like a stand-up comedy routine than film dialogue. The characters are a strange collection of mixed nuts, ranging from gun-toting dates to swinging Mormons. As funny as it is, Sunnyvale will offend just about anyone on some level.

Lonesome Loser Scores It Big Sunnyvale Isn't Typical Comedy

Lonesome Loser Scores It Big
Sunnyvale Isn't Typical Comedy