This pandemic-set drama exudes frustration and exasperation, however all the time stays in contact with a vital openness and optimism. It’s anchored in a sensible efficiency from co-director Kalley Kali who, as bereaved gig-economy hustler Danny, appears in a everlasting state of unhappiness and gentle distraction – although probably the latter is one thing to do with the very fact she performs more often than not on rollerblades.
Danny resides in a tent within the scrub someplace on the sting of Los Angeles (presumably Pacoima, the place this was filmed) along with her eight-year-old daughter, Wes (Wesley Moss). She tells her child that it’s only for enjoyable, making an attempt to defend her from the tough reality: they’ve grow to be homeless following the loss of life of her companion and Wes’s father. After dropping Wes off at daycare, Danny straps on her leopard-print blades and, moonlighting between hair-braiding and meals supply, makes an attempt to squeeze out the $200 she wants earlier than day’s finish to make a deposit on a flat.
After a few disappointing hair appointments, Danny runs into cocksure previous good friend Brooklynn (BK Marie) on the launderette; she’s about to maneuver her household in along with her new fella, regardless of having solely been with him for 2 weeks. On this scene, in a pawnshop the place Danny agonises about promoting her companion’s ring to a flirty participant, and in a disturbing encounter with a good friend, Kali and co-director Dominique Molina push a wry however pointed concentrate on ladies resorting to sexual forex in robust instances – or refusing to take action.
As Danny is hauled about city at a supply app’s behest, I’m Tremendous (Thanks for Asking)’s plotting sometimes feels a bit baldly linear – nevertheless it more and more flexes a lyrical muscle, starting with a surrealist plunge into stoned nervousness, constructing as much as a surprising LA reverie that releases all Danny’s maternal aid in a single go. Kali and Molina’s sun-kissed naturalism and light-weight contact make them a promising new voice in American cinema.
