Taking inspiration from the Oscar-winning film Misery, Jason Laurits’ Loves Company is a twisted fable on the fleeting nature of fame.
Blake de Troy, a kind of Temu Paul Lynde, is replaced as the central wit on Hollywood Surprise (rebranded Open The Box) by a YouTube make-up influencer.
When he is rescued from a car accident by uber-fan Antoinette Funk, she is delighted to host her idol – and he sees a promotional opportunity.
Loves Company probably works best if you have knowledge of the game show Hollywood Squares, the film Misery and the type of YouTuber being lampooned.
For de Troy, celebrity has been fickle. The network sees falling ratings and a tired format. His friend and manager is trying to persuade him to settle down out of the spotlight.
Only one fan letter is genuine in all this – Funk’s – who can’t believe her luck when her request for a visit is granted in the oddest way.
The performances are OTT but fun: Jack Plotnick and Rachel Dratch make the most of the leads while Sarah Baker and Dustin Ingram add strong support as Funk’s sister and admirer.
A shift in the last third of Loves Company from light comedy to more realistic violence doesn’t quite fit when the viewer is led to expect something far more farcical.
Laurits’ script is heavily inspired by the demands and pressure on social media influencers, and how those platforms can be used to reinvent any story. For de Troy, it is very much a case of “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”, although the ending could be read as overkill.
As someone who knew where the ideas were coming from, I found Loves Company an enjoyable watch, but it was a little weak now and then rather than following through on the parodies it teases.
Loves Company had its world premiere at Dances With Films on 19 Jun, and will be shown at Frameline50 on 27 Jun.