Manny Lewis

"Don't piss on the ducks son!"

Australian comedian Carl Barron creates and stars as a fictionalised version of himself in Manny Lewis, the story of "a lonely comedian who tries his hand at love". But how well does Barron's act translate from stage to screen?

Manny Lewis (Carl Barron) is a highly successful stand-up comedian. He's often getting recognised wherever he goes, and is in talks with his friend Jimmy (Damien Garvey) to do a big American tour soon, but Manny is lonely. One night after calling up a sexy hotline, he speaks to Caroline (Leeanna Walsman) who he seems to form a connection with. Soon afterwards, at his local coffee shop he meets Maria, who coincidentally is Caroline (her pseudonym) from the hotline, though whilst she recognises his voice, she does not divulge this to him. Manny and Maria connect well over a short period, but Manny's lack of confidence - and to some degree hers too - could prevent them from forming a relationship.

There must be a very fine line between Carl Barron and Manny Lewis, at least that's how it feels watching the film. The shared personality between the man and his character is indicative of just how much of a passion project this is for him. It's a film with heart, but Manny Lewis also tries to be a romantic comedy, and that's a very difficult goal to achieve. It's a film for the Barron fans. If you don't align to his dry wit and often monotonous delivery then you won't be that interested. I certainly appreciate Barron's stand-up - in fact, the sequences that blend his stage act with the character's emotional arc and by far the strongest parts of the film - but there seems to be a crucial element missing from the romantic story line. These two characters are both socially awkward, and it's sweet  to see them attempt to form a romantic bond, but conversely, the audience's connection with the two is quite limited. 

Manny Lewis lives and breathes Australian. From the Iced Vovos, Tim Tam slamming, and self-depreciating sense of humour, to the notable locations around Sydney that would be instantly recognisable to locals. It's a film that plays on our own stereotypes, not necessarily those that come to mind when you mention Australia overseas (contrary to popular belief, we don't all go around hunting crocodiles, playing knifey-spoony and kicking each other with oversized boots). The creators of the film state that they see Sydney as another character in the film, and this is achieved very well. But the Aus-centric tone of the film could well be a double edged sword as it narrows the appeal (It's currently only slated for release in Australia and New Zealand). 

Overall the acting is very good from the core cast. Barron is able to channel himself into Manny with ease and seems very comfortable in front of the camera. Veteran Aussie actor Roy Billing is underused but fits into his role as Manny's father very well, and Leeanna Walsman seems to have great chemistry with Barron. The simplistic cinematography, with its shallow depth of field and calming representation of Sydney late at night (from my experience there's generally more drunks around) makes it a visually appealing feature, playing to the strengths of what I imagine was a small budget.

Manny Lewis is not a particularly romantic film. It hits the right notes but somehow misses the emotion. On the other hand, it has a poignant sense of isolation that you can't help but feel takes inspiration straight from Carl's life. At the end of the day, it's a decently funny movie with heart.