Addicted to Fresno

Last updated

Addicted to Fresno
Addicted to Fresno Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jamie Babbit
Written by Karey Dornetto
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJeffrey Waldron
Edited bySuzanne Spangler
Music byNathan Matthew David
Production
companies
  • Gamechanger Films
  • Andrea Sperling Productions
  • Leeden Media
  • Lakeview Productions
  • TALU Productions
Distributed by Gravitas Ventures
Release dates
  • March 14, 2015 (2015-03-14)(SXSW)
  • October 2, 2015 (2015-10-02)(United States)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Addicted to Fresno (formerly Fresno) is a 2015 American dark comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit and written by Karey Dornetto. [1] The film stars Natasha Lyonne and Judy Greer as two sisters that find themselves in trouble after housekeeper Shannon Jackson (Greer) accidentally kills a guest at the hotel employing her and younger sister Martha (Lyonne). The film had its world premiere on March 14, 2015, at South by Southwest. It was released in the United States on September 1, 2015, through video on demand, and was given a limited theatrical release on October 2, 2015, by Gravitas Ventures. [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

In Fresno, California, optimistic Martha Jackson works as a housekeeper at a local hotel. Her older sister Shannon is a sex addict and frequently goes to rehab. Since Shannon is unemployed, Martha offers her a job as a housekeeper at the hotel. As a celebration for Shannon's first day on the job, they go to a local bar. Afterwards, Martha takes Shannon back to her house and tells her where things are while she is away. However, Shannon sneaks off to the house of her married therapist, Edwin, with whom she is having an affair. Meanwhile, Martha works out at the gym. Her trainer Kelly starts to take interest in her.

The next morning at the hotel, Shannon and Martha meet Boris, a slob who says that he knows everyone at the hotel. While taking a break, Shannon calls Edwin again. Edwin tells Shannon that he gave his wife a letter and had left her the minute she received it. Realizing that Edwin cannot go back to his wife, Shannon takes her anger out by going to Boris' room to have sex with him. Martha catches her in the act after she hears her scream in the distance. While Shannon defends herself from Boris, she accidentally kills him. Desperate to cover up the murder, they sneak Boris' corpse out of the hotel.

After sneaking out of the hotel, they take the corpse to Boris' family who has taken a disliking towards him. Shannon, posing as Boris' life guru, meets his sister Margaret. Margaret invites Shannon in to convince her parents that Boris has moved on in life and has left Fresno to never come back or to talk to his family again.

Martha and Shannon take the corpse over to their friends Gerald and Ruby, who own a pet cemetery. After uncovering Boris' corpse, they at first threaten to call the police, but then decide to blackmail the sisters for $25,000 by Monday in exchange for covering up the murder, threatening to charge them with manslaughter if they are unable to come up with the money. They initially attempt to rob an adult store to steal all the merchandise and try to sell them to lesbians at an event being held at the local hotel they work at, only to discover they did not make enough money.

To take the stress off, Martha goes to the gym while Shannon hooks up with her co-worker Eric. At the gym, Kelly informs Martha that one of her students is having a bar mitzvah and that she wants to bring Martha along as a date. After the gym, Martha returns and catches Shannon making out with Eric, much to her annoyance. While discussing the bar mitzvah the next day, they realize they can steal all of the money. Martha and Shannon double date with Kelly and Eric. Martha pretends she is choking on something to distract the crowd long enough to steal the money. Kelly asks to bring Martha back to her house to keep an eye on her, but Martha rejects. Kelly confesses that she is attracted to Martha, but Martha blows her off by telling her about her sister who has problems.

After the bar mitzvah, they realize they only stole $12,000, which is not enough money for Gerald and Ruby. Ruby, however, reluctantly agrees to cremate Boris' corpse. They then arrange a fake funeral for her dead "dog". Martha discovers Shannon having sex with Gerald, which is the final straw for Martha. Shannon tries to apologize, but Martha tells her that she is tired of helping her and that she does not want her to go back to her place.

Martha goes to reconcile with Kelly, and Shannon comes across Margaret who thanks her for the advice that Shannon gave. Realizing she has no one to talk to, she turns herself in. Two years later, it is revealed that she and Martha write letters to each other while Shannon is in prison, stating that "I hate you which in case you forgot means I love you like a sister."

Cast

Production

While writing the script, Karey Dornetto partially drew upon her own past relationship with her sister, wondering, "What if I still lived in my same hometown and we were in this sort of a meshed relationship, like a co-dependent relationship?". [4] From there she began to add the film's fictional elements such as Shannon's sex addiction. [4]

Filming was initially intended to take place in Cleveland, but due to budget issues, Dornetto and Jamie Babbit had to shift the film's setting to Fresno, a location they chose because it seemed like it was a city people wanted to get away from. Babbit and her films were very successful at the Fresno Reel Pride Film Festival, which she attended several times, giving her an idea of the city's pros and cons. (Producer Andrea Sperling also enjoyed a strong relationship with Reel Pride). The film was workshopped as part of the "Made in Cleveland" project, an anthology of 11 short films. Shot in Cleveland in 2012 and released in theaters in 2013, the short film was called Fucking Cleveland, starred Busy Philipps and Gillian Jacobs in the lead roles, and was shot on a budget of $50,000. [4]

In August 2014, it was announced that Judy Greer and Natasha Lyonne would portray the two central characters of Fresno, marking the second time Lyonne had worked with Babbit. [5] The two actresses stated that part of the reason that they chose to act in the film was because their characters were atypical to how they were traditionally cast, as Lyonne is usually cast as a "trainwreck" while Greer was usually the "levelheaded" character. [6] The actors were encouraged to engage in improvisation, though they stayed close to the script. Influences included Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995), Bottle Rocket (1996), and Bridesmaids (2011). [4] Shooting took place in Los Angeles. [7]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 14, 2015. [8] The film premiered at the Toronto LGBT Film Festival on May 23, 2015, and premiered at the Frameline Film Festival on June 26, 2015. [9] The film also premiered in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2015, at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. [10] On May 28, 2015, the films distribution rights were acquired by Gravitas Ventures with a planned fall 2015 release. [2] The film was released on September 1, 2015, through video on demand, prior to being released on October 2, 2015, in a limited theatrical release. [3]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 32% of 28 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.2/10.The website's consensus reads: "While Greer and Lyonne's sisterly chemistry carries Addicted to Fresno, it's not enough to overlook the script's missteps in humor and levity." [11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 34 out of 100, based on reviews from 11 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". [12]

In a mixed review, CraveOnline wrote that it "is full of gleeful raunchiness and a registered sex offender or two, but not much actual comedy." [13] The Austin Chronicle wrote, "This heavy comedy, scripted by Karey Dornetto, delivers its expected yield of snappy and emotionally charged levity from a charismatic cast that also features Fred Armisen, Molly Shannon, and Aubrey Plaza in supporting roles. But as the story's centerpiece, Greer's character ultimately gives the audience too little to root for. Insufferable and unrepentant until far too late, we don't feel conflicted like we should when her lone true ally finally says 'enough is enough.' And although it's hard to pry our eyes away from such a cool cast, by that time the feeling is mutual." [14] Variety was also mixed in their opinion, as they felt that the work would likely not gather the cult following that Babbit's 1999 film But I'm a Cheerleader received and that Fresno was overall "a mean-spirited farce whose strenuous bad taste seldom translates into actual laughs." [15]

Slant Magazine wrote, "Brightly lit and cheerfully acted, Jamie Babbit's Fresno pushes its not-so-funny premise almost to the breaking point, sacrificing character development on the altar of comedy along the way." [16] Aaron Hillis of The Village Voice called the film "consistently frickin' hilarious". [17] Flavorwire wrote, "As a performer's showcase, it's hard to beat. Judy Greer and Natasha Lyonne anchor it with a priceless good sister/bad sister dynamic; Lyonne is atypically sunny (and typically delightful) while Greer, as a bitter burnout, puts a sharp little spin on every line, turning each into a little dagger. Aubrey Plaza also shines in a brief but juicy bit as a would-be love interest for Lyonne." [18]

Related Research Articles

<i>Everyone Says I Love You</i> 1996 film by Woody Allen

Everyone Says I Love You is a 1996 American musical romantic comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. It stars Alan Alda, Allen, Drew Barrymore, Lukas Haas, Goldie Hawn, Gaby Hoffmann, Natasha Lyonne, Edward Norton, Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Tim Roth, and David Ogden Stiers. Set in New York City, Venice, and Paris, it features singing by actors not usually known for musical roles. The film was a commercial failure, but is among the more critically successful of Allen's films, with Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert even ranking it as one of Allen's best.

Fresno is the fifth-largest city in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natasha Lyonne</span> American actress, writer and director (born 1979)

Natasha Bianca Lyonne Braunstein is an American actress, writer, television director, and producer. Known for her distinctive raspy voice and tough persona, the accolades she has received include two Screen Actors Guild Awards, alongside nominations for five Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Critics' Choice Television Award.

<i>But Im a Cheerleader</i> 1999 film by Jamie Babbit

But I'm a Cheerleader is a 1999 American satirical teen romantic comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit in her feature directorial debut and written by Brian Wayne Peterson. Natasha Lyonne stars as Megan Bloomfield, a high school cheerleader whose parents send her to a residential in-patient conversion therapy camp to "cure" her lesbianism. At camp, Megan realizes that she is indeed a lesbian and, despite the "therapy", comes to embrace her sexuality. The supporting cast includes Clea DuVall, RuPaul, and Cathy Moriarty.

<i>Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby</i> 1999 film by Matthew Bright

Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby is a 1999 black comedy crime thriller film and the sequel to Freeway (1996), written and directed by Matthew Bright. It stars Natasha Lyonne as Crystal "White Girl" Van Meter and María Celedonio as Angela "Cyclona" Garcia. While the first film was partly inspired by "Little Red Riding Hood", the second film is somewhat based on "Hansel and Gretel". It was an international co-production between the United States and Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judy Greer</span> American actress (born 1975)

Judith Therese Evans, known professionally as Judy Greer, is an American actress. She is primarily known as a character actress who has appeared in a wide variety of films. She rose to prominence for her supporting roles in the films Jawbreaker (1999), What Women Want (2000), 13 Going on 30 (2004), Elizabethtown (2005), 27 Dresses (2008), and Love & Other Drugs (2010).

<i>Itty Bitty Titty Committee</i> 2007 film directed by Jamie Babbit

Itty Bitty Titty Committee is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit. It follows the political awakening of Anna, a young, mild-mannered lesbian woman who joins a radical feminist group. The film is produced by non-profit organization POWER UP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Babbit</span> American filmmaker

Jamie Merill Babbit is an American director, producer and screenwriter. She directed the films But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), The Quiet (2005), and Itty Bitty Titty Committee (2007). She has also directed episodes of such television series as Russian Doll, Gilmore Girls, Malcolm in the Middle, United States of Tara, Looking, Nip/Tuck, The L Word, Silicon Valley, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Orville, Only Murders in the Building, and A League of Their Own.

<i>My Suicidal Sweetheart</i> 2005 American film

My Suicidal Sweetheart is a 2005 American independent dark comedy film written and produced by Michael Parness. The initial working title of the film was Saving Grace; this title was later changed to Max & Grace during production, and remained in place prior to its release on the film festival circuit in March 2005.

Andrea Sperling is an independent film producer based in Los Angeles. The films she has produced include Totally Fucked Up, But I'm a Cheerleader, D.E.B.S. and Itty Bitty Titty Committee and the Sundance Top Prize-winning Like Crazy.

<i>All About Evil</i> 2010 film by Peaches Christ

All About Evil is a 2010 American black comedy slasher film and marks the feature film directorial debut of Joshua Grannell, who also wrote the script. The film stars Natasha Lyonne as an unhinged theatre owner who begins making snuff films and screening them at her decrepit San Francisco theater — presenting them as fictional works — in order to prevent the theater from going bankrupt.

Mynette Louie is an American film producer of Chinese descent. She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy and Critics Choice Award in 2018 for HBO's The Tale, won the 2015 Independent Spirit Awards John Cassavetes Award for Land Ho!, and won the 2013 Independent Spirit Awards Piaget Producers Award. She was also nominated twice for "Best First Feature" at the Independent Spirit Awards for I Carry You With Me and The Tale. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

<i>Eden</i> (2012 film) 2012 American film

Eden(Abduction of Eden) is a 2012 American drama film about human trafficking. It was directed by Megan Griffiths, who co-wrote the screenplay with Richard B. Phillips and stars Jamie Chung, Matt O'Leary and Beau Bridges. The film was produced by Colin Harper Plank and Jacob Mosler through Plank's Centripetal Films production company. It was inspired by the story of Chong Kim, who claims that she was kidnapped and sold into a domestic human trafficking ring in the mid 1990s. It had its world premiere at the 2012 South by Southwest Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leslye Headland</span> American writer and director (born 1980)

Leslye Headland is an American film and television director, screenwriter, and playwright. She wrote the play Bachelorette and wrote and directed its 2012 film adaptation and the 2015 film Sleeping with Other People. She co-created the Netflix series Russian Doll, along with Natasha Lyonne and Amy Poehler. She also created the Disney+ Star Wars series The Acolyte.

<i>Sleeping with Other People</i> 2015 film by Leslye Headland

Sleeping with Other People is a 2015 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Leslye Headland. The film stars Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie, Natasha Lyonne, Amanda Peet, and Adam Scott. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2015, the film was released theatrically on September 11, 2015, by IFC Films. Sleeping with Other People received generally positive reviews from critics.

<i>Hello, My Name Is Doris</i> 2015 film by Michael Showalter

Hello, My Name Is Doris is a 2015 American coming-of-age romantic comedy film directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay by Laura Terruso and Showalter, about a woman in her 60s who tries to act on her attraction to a younger co-worker. It stars Sally Field in the title role, alongside Max Greenfield, Beth Behrs, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Stephen Root, Elizabeth Reaser, Natasha Lyonne and Tyne Daly.

<i>Meadowland</i> (film) 2015 film

Meadowland is a 2015 drama film written by Chris Rossi and directed by Reed Morano in her feature debut. The film stars Olivia Wilde, Luke Wilson, Juno Temple, Elisabeth Moss, Giovanni Ribisi, John Leguizamo, and Ty Simpkins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karey Dornetto</span> American screenwriter

Karey Dornetto is an American screenwriter who has written for television series such as Arrested Development, Community, Portlandia and South Park. She also wrote the script for the feature-length film Addicted to Fresno.

<i>Antibirth</i> 2016 film by Danny Perez

Antibirth is a 2016 psychedelic body horror film written and directed by Danny Perez and starring Natasha Lyonne, Chloë Sevigny, Meg Tilly, Mark Webber, Maxwell McCabe-Lokos and Emmanuel Kabongo. The film follows a drug-addled woman in a remote Michigan town who becomes pregnant after taking a strange drug. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016. The film was released in the United States on September 2, 2016, by IFC Midnight.

Never Steady, Never Still is a Canadian drama film, which premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.

References

  1. ↑ O'Connor, Clint (September 29, 2015). "Director Jamie Babbit brings 'Addicted to Fresno' to the Cedar Lee Theatre". Cleveland.com . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Hipes, Patrick (May 28, 2015). "SXSW Comedy 'Addicted to Fresno' Lands at Gravitas Ventures". Deadline Hollywood .
  3. 1 2 Derschowitz, Jessica (July 16, 2015). "Addicted to Fresno trailer: Natasha Lyonne and Judy Greer star in new comedy". Entertainment Weekly .
  4. 1 2 3 4 Vinyard, Papa (March 21, 2015). "SXSW '15: Vinyard visits FRESNO with director Jamie Babbit and writer Karey Dornetto!". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  5. ↑ Yamato, Jen (August 22, 2014). "Judy Greer, Natasha Lyonne Head To Jamie Babbit's 'Fresno'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  6. ↑ Smith, Nigel M. (March 19, 2015). "SXSW: How Natasha Lyonne and Judy Greer Escaped the Hollywood Boys Club for 'Fresno'". IndieWire . Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  7. ↑ Dannielle (March 19, 2015). "But I'm Jamie Babbit: The Autostraddle Interview". Autostraddle . Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Fresno". South by Southwest . Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Fresno". Frameline Film Festival. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Edinburgh International Film Festival Unveils 2015 Programme". Edinburgh International Film Festival. May 27, 2015. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Addicted to Fresno (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Addicted to Fresno Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  13. ↑ Topel, Fred (March 17, 2015). "SXSW 2015 Review: Say No To 'Fresno'". CraveOnline . Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  14. ↑ Espinosa, Russ (March 16, 2015). "SXSW Film Review: Fresno". The Austin Chronicle . Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  15. ↑ Harvey, Dennis (March 18, 2015). "SXSW Film Review: 'Fresno'". Variety . Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  16. ↑ Nakhnikian, Elise (March 15, 2015). "SXSW 2015: Manglehorn and Fresno". Slant Magazine . Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  17. ↑ Hillis, Aaron [@cobblehillis] (March 14, 2015). "Jamie Babbit's dysfunctional-sis comedy FRESNO overcomes its dippy sitcom plot by being consistently frickin' hilarious. Perfect cast! #SXSW" (Tweet). Retrieved May 17, 2015– via Twitter.
  18. ↑ Bailey, Jason (March 20, 2015). "The Best and Worst of the 2015 SXSW Film Festival". Flavorwire . Archived from the original on April 8, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.