“Meanwhile in a Parallel Universe,” a review of “The Wrong Todd” by Nathan H. Box
Recommendation: 3/5 Stars, STREAM
Director: Rob Schulbaum, Writer: Rob Schulbaum, Starring: Jesse Rosen, Anna Rizzo, Sean Carmichael
Plot: “Everything changes for Todd when his evil twin from a parallel universe arrives to steal his girlfriend.” -IMDB
Review: For my eighth film of the 2018 Los Angeles Film Festival, I saw a movie that reaffirmed everything about independent cinema and those movies you would never get to see if it were not for an event like a film festival. “The Wrong Todd” begins like any other comedy about a guy and a girl. Here, Todd and his girlfriend seem to be headed in two different directions. Todd is comfortable with life in New England. His girlfriend is ready to take the next step and chase a dream job in Seattle. This premise is the only normal thing about this movie.
Why? Because, before we know it there are two different Todd’s. For our first Todd, everything is wrong. His friends have fallen in love unexpectedly and his girlfriend has passed away. For our second Todd, life is grand. He is the ever-faithful boyfriend, meeting his girlfriend’s every need, and preparing for a life in Seattle. This is when you realize, as an audience member, that we are watching two different storylines play out. This is when things get really interesting.
These two storylines are playing out in parallel universes. The results are comedic and just enough of a hook to keep you intrigued. As Todd #1, becomes aware of these timelines, things get complicated, quirky, and weird. In the end, what keeps you watching this film is Todd #1’s realization of what he has lost and his decision to do everything in his power he can to get it back.
In the end, “The Wrong Todd” is a really odd picture all about love. It takes chances that big-name studio films wouldn’t and more often than not delivers. It also gives us a fresh director/writer and cast, which is always a welcome sight. For all these reasons, I recommend streaming this film wherever you can find it.
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
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