Laguna Ave (2021) Film Review
Man, is L.A. weird.
Few films go into the belly of the beast of what is Tinseltown’s savage underground.
And the weird thing is, no matter what you think happens there, you can always be surprised. Such is the case with a film I reviewed recently called Mondo Hollywoodland. In it time travel, psychedelia and social movements came together in a sort of mockumentary pastiche that hinted at the infinite possibilities of safe and unsafe states of peril you could find yourself in if you explore something other than Sunset Boulevard.
In a weirdly similar vein, Laguna Ave shifts genres and takes us back to a place of patio conversations and cultural transactions. This time, in a more grounded setting, science fiction tropes are utilized to tell an obnoxious man’s tale of triumph. Because whether you care or not about Russell, we can’t exclude the fact that it feels like he was always meant for his destination.
Russell has no job. His girlfriend doesn’t even care about his situation, and he doesn’t do a thing about it. He’s a television editor whose boss owes money and he’s got no better choice than to raid the studio, take a hard drive and poo on a desk. This completes Russell.
One day while they’re trying to sleep, the downstairs neighbor begin making noise, a loud racket that forces Russell to get up and confront them. His first encounter is weird to say the least. But when he finally meets the man in charge of the apartment, Russell enters a downward spiral of amateur technology, paranoia and conspiracy whispers. When he realizes there’s more than meets the eye, Russell won’t stop until he reaches his goal.
Shot in black and white, and staying within the confines of a typical L.A. neighborhood, Laguna Ave moves back and forth in its comedic setting which is finely thread in the dynamics of Russell’s relationship with his neighbors. It’s very strange how he’s normal when he’s among them and yet he’s the one who starts the journey. Yes, he’s chosen due to something I won’t reveal.
But Russell is a difficult main character. It’s hard to like the guy. It’s only when he’s making a fool of himself that we accept the direction of the film and its protagonist. Regardless of the sci-fi tone the film uses for narrative purposes, the essence of Russell’s life is maintained throughout the end. His relationship with Rita seems to be the only thing he cares about besides the money his boss owes him. Then again, Rita blatantly tells Russell he doesn’t pay rent, therefore he shouldn’t “complain”. However, Russell progresses in his own victorious setting. Although his new superpower gives him confidence, he just seems to be able to rest when Rita is there by his side.
The third act in Laguna AveĀ is bold, rushed and very original. It’s a dark mix of creative decisions made in the screenwriting phase. The film has no fixed concept. It goes from artificial intelligence to dildos in seconds, it goes from paranoia to regret in minutes. Even if you don’t care for the film’s bizarre direction from the beginning, I can guarantee you will never see something like this again. It’s quite noticeable in the final act.
This is what indie genre films are made for, and Laguna Ave proudly carries its elemental code all the way through the end.
