A lonely young man introduces his new girlfriend to his parents and they immediately hate her for no reason in Patrick VanZandt’s debut feature Addy Daddy.
Addy Daddy is a romantic drama that takes a look at love across the class divide. These stories remain popular with audiences because we love to root for an unlikely couple like the down-to-earth working-class hero defying social expectations to find love with the charming yet privileged socialite. This wish fulfillment leaves us hopeful that love can conquer all, regardless of bank accounts or family background. Writer and Director VanZandt puts his own little spin on this genre by giving us a working-class, non-academic girl next door in Addison (played by Lexi Simonsen) and the innocent middle-class and well-educated Lucas (Jared Trevino).
Where Addy Daddy differs from other films of its ilk is in the presentation of it’s main characters, (with both being extremely likable), and halfway through there is a huge twist that completely changes the trajectory of the film. The first part deals with the burgeoning love affair between our two protagonists, who are both completely different people from completely different environments. The issue of class is not something that occurs to the couple but it certainly occurs to Lucas’ parents – the snobbishly protective Larry and Sara. Matt Kirkwood as Larry, and Lynn Haro as Sara provide us with a brilliant representation of parental elitism. From the moment they meet Addy – a few months into the relationship – they immediately dislike her. Addy is uncouth, gobby, and never stops talking. Her playful digs and jokes towards Lucas are misread by his parents as mean and nasty. Lucas loves Addy and accepts everything about her but his parents only want what is best for their son and they don’t want anything to stop him from fulfilling his potential. If that means getting Addy away from their son then they will certainly try and do that.
But then the major twist occurs and we are taken into Vanilla Sky & Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind territory, and it is with these comparisons we can single out Van Zandt as a very promising director. From the beginning, he tries to create a dreamlike atmosphere with a soft focus and the use of washed-out colours. There is a direct reference to Vanilla Sky with one of the characters wearing a pair of Cruise-esque sunglasses and running across an empty plain, but throughout the film’s 118-minute run time, we are treated to some interesting visuals. Jordan Pollak’s cinematography gives us distorted reflections and fragmented imagery, but later it is the script’s dream logic that takes hold, mirroring Lucas’ struggle to grasp what is real and what isn’t. All of this helps blur the lines between reality and Lucas’s subconscious, a disorientation that keeps the audience engaged and constantly questioning the world presented on screen.
Despite some fantastical elements, VanZandt’s script injects emotional depth into the characters, particularly Lucas and Addy, as we watch Lucas’s descent into frustration and his struggle with self-acceptance, and a desperate yearning for connection. Addy remains a beacon of light in Lucas’s darkness and despite his constant verbal attacks, offers him unwavering support and a reason to fight for some normalcy. Thanks to two great performances, Lucas and Addy’s connection feels genuine and this makes the film more than just an attack on class; it’s a story about love, loss, and the strength of the human spirit.
With a new but talented director at the helm, Abby Daddy is a thought-provoking film that is easily worth 2 hours of your time.
Leave a Reply