Released in UK cinemas tomorrow, The Climb follows the ups and downs of two lifelong best friends.
Mike and Kyle have been friends for as long as they can remember, and almost nothing can come between them. Sowhen Mike decides to finally tell Kyle that he’s been sleeping with his fiancé, he makes sure to do it on a gruelling uphill bike climb.
Hysterically funny with a heartfelt core, the film was directed and produced by it’s star Michael Angelo Covina and co-written with co-lead Kyle Marvin. It follows the men as their friendship is torn apart and put together and torn apart againfollowing this revelation.
The writing is tender and real, examining toxic friendship and the complexities of modern masculinity. It probes the role our friends play in our life and what happens when the family we choose turns out to not be who we expected. But don’t be fooled, whilst those concepts sound heavy, it is an absolute riot of a film. The pair embody slapstick humour anddelicately scatter the surreal throughout the 7 chaptered story.
Rounding out the film is Gayle Rankin as Kyle’s partner Marissa (you may recognise her form our recently dearly departed GLOW) who feels just as developed and real as hertwo male co-stars do. The whole film feels as if it’s a story you would hear about a friend of a friend over a beer. But through outstanding writing and direction it’s elevated to a film that has wow-ed at festivals over the last 18 months and deserves a whole heap of praise.
You’re best going into the film cold, so I’ve tried to keep this review short and vague, but the actual film making is masterful and please watch out for the pitch perfect choreography and timing of all involved throughout the film.
A funny, silly delight and a technical wonder. It’s out in cinemas tomorrow, please take a chance on this indie darling if you need a laugh in your life right now.
Ex film teacher and frequent couch potato. I try and see at least one new release a week, but I’ve somehow got to 30 without having seen The Godfather?
