Social Animals

By: Yael Tygiel

For an audience who grew up on Garden State and Juno comes Theresa Bennett’s feature directorial debut Social Animals starring Noel Wells (“Master of None”). Wells plays Zoe, a 30-something stoner who attempts to navigate adulthood only to be met with the Millennial reality of financial and romantic failure. The film fast-forwards through exposition by introducing characters and relationships with title cards, allowing viewers to jump head first into Zoe’s all-too-real world.

Zoe, who likes drinking, getting high and taking Polaroid pictures (specifically of sexual conquests) owns a small waxing business called House of Wax. Her best friend Claire, played by Carly Chaikin (“Mr. Robot”), works as a manager for musicians and is engaged to the perfect man – on paper. Whereas Zoe has never been in love we see Claire, like most of their friends, hurdling towards what looks like happily ever after.

At times the film feels like a cautionary tale for today’s 30-somethings, reminding us that no matter how hard we hustle success is not guaranteed. Zoe’s constant struggle to find clients effects not only her business’ bottom line, but also her ability to pay her own rent to her landlord. Although she’s the owner of her colorful and eclectically decorated trailer, the owner of the land on which it sits is a land lord. But her business isn’t the only one in the neighborhood that’s drowning. Her across the street neighbor Vulcan Video, run by Paul (Josh Radnor), is also closing down. Drawing them together, Paul and Zoe bond over music, movies and attempting run their own businesses, attracting them to each other on a deeper level. Meanwhile Paul’s relationship with his wife Jane (Aya Cash) slowly falls apart. Jane’s arch of a woman who, like Claire, seems to have everything yet cannot find happiness takes the trope to a new depth revealing the pain and discomfort of depression and anxiety. Cash’s raw portrayal of panic attacks feels authentic and heart-wrenching.

But it’s not all sad and lonely. Nearly everyone in the film learns a lesson and grows up a bit.  And although the chemistry and banter between Zoe and Paul is cute and their emotional ride feels genuine, the true laughs in this comedy stem mostly from Fortune Feimster’s Sarah-Beth. She’s in just a few scenes and her appearance is almost completely unrelated to the plot, but Sarah-Beth is quite possibly the funniest part of the film…as well as Paul and Jane’s son, Nate, who acts like a dog.

Not only did Bennett direct the film, but she was also the writer, providing the story a unique voice as a millennial woman herself. Her portrayals of female friendship and sexuality is a fresh experience in indies that are often overwhelmingly violent and male. I’m eager to see what she produces next.