Humpday (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Emily A

  
  Okay, if you're like a friend of mine, who finds scenes of extreme awkwardness so uncomfortable that you're not even willing to sit through them (squirming), then stay well away from this film. If however, you're like me, and willing to laugh at the holes that machismo… More
  Okay, if you're like a friend of mine, who finds scenes of extreme awkwardness so uncomfortable that you're not even willing to sit through them (squirming), then stay well away from this film. If however, you're like me, and willing to laugh at the holes that machismo can sometimes dig for itself, you'll laugh your ass off. Which is what I did. I guess I see something of myself in the speech patterns, vocabulary and points of views of these characters, and I can completely root for these two confused jackasses. While they're drunk at a party, they decide to enter an amateur porn competition, and they hang onto the idea once they sober up the next day. Their pact to screw each other on camera becomes a dumbass game of pseudo-intellectual sexual chicken. They end up investing way too much of their identities in their pact, despite the fact that they both have real, actual and valid reasons to go through with it. Ben wants to prove to himself that he's not the button-down domestic prude that he looks like, and Andrew wants to prove to himself that he's the Bohemian artist that he believes himself to be. But despite their platonic closeness and their obvious brotherly love for each other, they have to struggle to find some way to overcome their biggest hurdle: namely, neither of them are the slightest bit gay. This movie is such a scream. It's not often that a pair has to have impossible sex to save the friendship, but here we are. Man, I love this movie so much.

• Gordon A

  
  Worthy if minor indie love-in which runs out of steam when you realise where its going and I never really bought the contrived set up.

• Anthony L

  
  A subtle comedy dealing with 30 something life via the last taboo. Brilliantly acted by the two main charictors. It is not about two guys having sex with each other!

• Leigh R

  
  AWKWARD!

• Aaron N

  
  Ben: What a wild life you live, my friend. A film that basically explores the very limits of where a bromance can take two people. A somewhat funny human comedy, using the mumblecore format to achieve an awkwardly humorous film. Mark Duplass stars as Ben, a married man, trying to… More
  Ben: What a wild life you live, my friend. A film that basically explores the very limits of where a bromance can take two people. A somewhat funny human comedy, using the mumblecore format to achieve an awkwardly humorous film. Mark Duplass stars as Ben, a married man, trying to conceive a child with his wife Anna, played by Alycia Delmore. One late night, Ben's old college buddy Andrew shows up at his house, with Ben and Anna deciding to let him stay. Not having seen Andrew in a long time, Ben starts hanging out with his buddy again, leading to a drunken party where Ben learns of an annual film festival that has a certain twist to it, being that it involves amateur pornography. Being very drunk, Ben and Andrew come up with a plan to win said festival, by creating a film featuring two straight guys having sex; which is considered by them to be "beyond gay". And the comedy ensues! For anyone not familiar with the mumblecore format in film, it essentially involves a shoestring budget, mostly non-actors, and not as much a script, but an idea for where each scene goes, playing all off of improvisational dialogue. All these elements are certainly applied to this film, however it is effective for what is going on here. As far as the story goes, it basically goes very far to have an honest look at male friendship. Whether or not the inevitable happens is besides the point, because much of the film is spent analyzing the concept and putting perspective on how far friends can go with each other. And while it may not have been very entertaining to me throughout, I certainly admired the film enough to recommend it as something neat and different. Andrew: That's the tricky thing. It's the difference between this and bungee jumping, is that bungee jumping, you just walk to the edge and jump... Ben: ...and the whole thing takes care of you... Andrew: ...and you don't have to have a hard-on to bungee jump.

• Drew S

  
  Pretty standard mumblecore...several good ideas, but it's sort of frustrating watching a couple of guys try to out-edge each other for an hour and a half. I understand that no-budget filmmaking has to subside on its dialogue but Humpday really doesn't have anything more to… More
  Pretty standard mumblecore...several good ideas, but it's sort of frustrating watching a couple of guys try to out-edge each other for an hour and a half. I understand that no-budget filmmaking has to subside on its dialogue but Humpday really doesn't have anything more to say after the first forty minutes, and the ending is unsatisfying in every way imaginable. Its take on "bromance" is interesting and the film actually gets pretty deep into the sections it does explore; the problem is that the premise doesn't quite expand like it should. Instead of having the characters repeatedly stress that they're deeper than they look, they're not quite so picket fence, they're big old frauds, etc., why not turn an eye to what they really are? We come away from the movie with more of a sense of the people they're not. We know that Ben is a loving husband who's sold on his own hidden depth, and we know that Andrew is a countercultural hipster, but that's really it. When you consider the fact that neither character really seems to believe what they're saying in the first place, something about the whole movie feels sort of wasteful. The laughs are pretty mild, but surprisingly most of them come from sight gags, or the utter bizarreness of the situation at hand, not necessarily whatever the script wants to bring forth. Strong (possibly improvisational) acting by a collection of mumblecore veterans makes the ordeal ultimately worth watching, but it's not particularly illuminating or intellectually expansive.

• Nate Z

  
  There’s a definite squeamishness out there when it comes to the idea of men expressing intimacy. Brokeback Mountain proved even liberal Hollywood wasn’t ready to anoint a movie about two gay dudes secretly getting it on. There will be large portions of people that will refuse to give… More
  There’s a definite squeamishness out there when it comes to the idea of men expressing intimacy. Brokeback Mountain proved even liberal Hollywood wasn’t ready to anoint a movie about two gay dudes secretly getting it on. There will be large portions of people that will refuse to give a movie like Humpday a chance simply because of its premise: two guys plotting to have sex. It’s not a dirty movie by any means, nor does it get graphic with details or conversations. But the movie exactingly explores the uncomfortable relationships men have with expressions of romance. Humpday is also extremely funny in that pained, awkward sensibility, and I challenge the squeamish to give this charming indie a shot at love. If it makes it any easier for people to take (SPOILER ALERT) they don’t actually go through with it. Ben (Mark Duplass) is living a comfortable existence with his wife, Anna (Alycia Delmore). Then one day his old friend from college, Andrew (Joshua Leonard), unexpectedly visits. Andrew has lived a Kerouac-like existence on the road as an aspiring artist. The two guys catch up on old times and Andrew invites Ben over to a party. He ditches his wife, and her pork chops, for the party, which turns out to be hosted by a group of free-love artists. The alcohol-fueled conversation lands on Humpfest, the annual amateur pornography festival held in Seattle. Ben and Andrew come up with their own entry idea: two straight guys that will have sex. “That’s beyond gay,” somebody says. Both men refuse to back down. Ben books a hotel room. The only thing he has to do now is tell his wife about Andrew’s “art project.” Humpday explodes male sexual insecurities better than any film since 1997’s Chasing Amy. Each man refuses to back out of having gay sex because they don’t want to be seen as less masculine. It’s masculinity brinksmanship, willing to go all the way to prove superior heterosexuality through a homosexual act, and it’s nothing short of brilliant. Neither Ben nor Andrew wants to “puss out” on their big moment. But neither of them really wants to go through with it either, which leads toward tremendous amounts of awkward comedy. Writer/director Lynn Shelton has fashioned a scenario that is hilarious but also subtlety heartfelt; many films deal with the “bromance” of heterosexual love, but Shelton pushes it to the limit. These two guys do care about each other, and you can see their camaraderie as they recount old stories and open up to one another, and in the end they might be willing to go to the extremes for their friendship, whatever the consequences may be. Both Ben and Andrew have deep-seated insecurities about their personal lives; Andrew wants to live a free-spirited artistic lifestyle but is really too scared to fully commit, and too “square” for abandoning all sexual inhibitions like some of his casual artsy pals; Ben has a house, a job, a wife, and feels defensive about his life choices, particularly the idea that he’s settled down and giving up. Both men are also insecure by sexually adept women, so it may be natural that they seek the company of each other for solace and mutual understanding. The final act, where the two friends meet in a hotel room for their big night, is a slice of awkward comedy heaven. They haven’t worked out any logistics, locations, warm-ups, anything, and watching them verbally hatch a game plan is hilarious and oddly touching in equal doses. They really don’t know what they’re doing and why they’re there. The actors have a naturalistic feel because, as I’ve found, the dialogue was almost entirely improvised. They shot in chronological order so to build from conversation to conversation, and you can feel the character dynamics strengthen and deepen. Duplass (The Puffy Chair) has a great, wide fake smile that hides a lot of anger and dissatisfaction. He’s sort of a schluby everyman that we can empathize with even as he moves forward with his participation in the “art film.” Leonard (The Blair Witch Project), and his scraggly beard, effectively conveys a man weary about where his rugged life has led him. He is also hiding behind a guise, the guise of being a nonconformist that chooses to have no earthly ties, but bit-by-bit you see that Andrew is tired of disposable human connections. Leonard and Duplass feel like life-long friends. Then there’s Delmore, who really is the wary, incredulous voice of the audience. She too comes across as realistic under the circumstances, and her reaction when she discovers the true purpose of the “art project” is volatile, yes, but also surprisingly reflective. The three leads never feel like actors; the illusion that these are real people is never broken even given the peculiar circumstances of the premise. What I really appreciated about Humpday is that every moment feels genuine and every scene has a point. I was amazed that Shelton and her small unit of actors had made it so that every conversation had purpose; there is so little fat to this screenplay. Each scene reveals something new about a character or pushes the narrative forward toward its uncomfortable climax, and each moment never breaks the reality of the story. Given these characters and the amiable direction they follow, Humpday is believable. I suppose it might be easy to dismiss it as another entry in the fly-on-the-wall “mumblecore” film series gaining traction in independent cinema, but Humpday is really more an observational character study that examines male relationships and the sexual politics of being a “man’s man” in today’s world of sexual liberation. There is a nuanced perspective on human sexuality here that I may be erroneously crediting to Shelton simply because she is a woman. It helps to have a more mature, open-minded perspective about the complexities of human behavior for this story to succeed, and I think a female presence behind the camera affords that luxury. There is commentary below the surface; however, Humpday can be entirely enjoyed as a surface-level comedy of an awkward heterosexual showdown. I find it interesting that the original theatrical poster only featured the two shirtless guys eyeing each other, and with a pink background no less. The DVD cover has inserted Anna between the two guys and gone with the more boy-friendly blue background cover. I think this tiny detail is another reflection of just how uncomfortable the subject matter is for many people. Humpday is an insightful, perceptive little character study that feels real and honest, while at the same time the movie doesn’t allow sexual politics to become the headline. The movie remembers to be funny, often, and any discomfort is worth it. Nate's Grade: A

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Sometimes male bonding can be taken a little too far."</i> Two guys take their bromance to another level when they participate in an art film project. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW… More
  <i>"Sometimes male bonding can be taken a little too far."</i> Two guys take their bromance to another level when they participate in an art film project. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW </u></b></font></center> Movie about two college friends Andrew (Joshua Leonard) and Ben (Mark Duplass) getting together years after college. Ben has settled down and is happily married to Anna (Alycia Delmore). Andrew is single and somewhat wild. During one drunken night Andrew and Ben said they'll make a film of themselves for a sex film festival--they'll film themselves making love. The next day they regret it but neither one will back down. And who's going to tell Anna? This sounds like it has the makings of a dirty adult comedy...but it isn't. There are some very funny parts in it but mostly they deal with the situation in a realistic manner. It works because the script is very well-written and refuses to back down or take the easy way out. It's also an adult movie--it doesn't talk down to its audience or dumb it down for teenagers. Add to that three great performances by all the leads--especially Delmore. This is the type of movie that you see with friends and discuss afterwards. A well-done thought-provoking film. It is a little too long but worth catching. Recommended.

• William D

  
  "Humpday" is a radical, fearless film about transcending one's own limits. Meet Ben and Andrew. They were very close in college, when they shared a passion for art and the courageous exploration of life. They were going to take on the world together. Instead Ben left… More
  "Humpday" is a radical, fearless film about transcending one's own limits. Meet Ben and Andrew. They were very close in college, when they shared a passion for art and the courageous exploration of life. They were going to take on the world together. Instead Ben left Andrew and settled down to a relatively normal married life. Andrew went out on his own. Now on the verge of middle age, they find each other again. The spark comes roaring back immediately. At an all-night party under the influence of numerous drugs, their artistic spirit starts to soar. The discussion turns to Humpfest, Seattle's amateur-porn festival (it really does exist) that caters to artists who are interested in more than just bump and grind. Ben feels that there's no use in submitting a video for the festival unless it's a real work of art, something that's never been done before. They jokingly entertain the idea of making a film themselves -- two straight guys having sex certainly hasn't been done before. Andrew then jokes that Ben would never in a million years do something so radical, which draws Ben's ire. Ben wonders if he's missing out on life by being too conservative and not exploring his outer limits. Surprisingly, when the drugs wear off, both Ben and Andrew still want to make the video, but they don't really know why. Neither one is sexually attracted to the other, and neither one is bi-curious. They really are straight. They're determined not to "puss out" though, to use their words. So begins an extraordinary exploration of the forces of gravity that keep us in our comfort zones and the occasional rebellions we wage against that gravitational pull. The sexual dimension of this project makes it even more interesting. Why is it especially disconcerting for two straight guys to push beyond the bounds of their sexual orientation? Why is it especially exciting? Even those nauseated by the idea probably would experience it like a car crash. It's a terrible sight and you cover your eyes instinctively. But you peer fleetingly between your fingers to catch a glimpse. And surely everyone, whether they want to or not, will wonder -- even if just for a split second -- which sex practices the straight guys will actually perform with each other. How far will they go? Will one of them surprise himself and like any of it? Then there's the question of Ben's marriage. Will he do this behind his wife's back? If he tells her, will she leave him? Will her sense of his masculinity be permanently undermined? "Humpday" takes these issues on, too. Ben's wife emerges as a full character in her own right as a result. This is a profoundly original film. All throughout, I had the feeling I was watching the 21st century itself being born. How will sexual, social, and marital practices evolve in this new century? "Humpday" is not sure, but it teases out some of the threads and asks open-ended questions in a thrilling way. Despite the fact that it explores issues that will make many members of the audience squirm (in fact some straight men may be thrown into real panic and dread), "Humpday" miraculously finds a way to remain light-hearted. It never bashes the viewer over the head or grinds any axes. It's not a polemical film. "Humpday" is an enjoyable experience, with a lot of genuine laughter produced. But it also pulls the rug out from under 20th-century notions of sexuality and identity in a way that is deeply disconcerting.

• Walter M

  
  In "Humpday," Ben(Mark Duplass) and Anna(Alycia Delmore) want to conceive a baby, but too tired to actually do anything about it. So, it looks like the only action he is getting this night is a bear hug from his old friend Andrew(Joshua Leonard) who shows up on their… More
  In "Humpday," Ben(Mark Duplass) and Anna(Alycia Delmore) want to conceive a baby, but too tired to actually do anything about it. So, it looks like the only action he is getting this night is a bear hug from his old friend Andrew(Joshua Leonard) who shows up on their doorstep in the middle of the night, directly from Mexico City. While Ben is at work the next day, Andrew hooks up with some people at a coffeehouse who invite him home for a party, drawing his friend into the scrum. As the night moves on and Anna's pork chops get cold, everybody gets comfortably stoned as news of an artsy porn festival, Humpfest, is passed around. So, Andrew and Ben decide it would be interesting if they submitted a video of them having sex together. "Humpday" is a pleasing movie that feels totally natural but is occasionally a little rough around the edges, especially the morning after scene where it is not clear initally what exactly is going on. To its credit, the movie is not at all interested in being just another juvenile collection of gay panic jokes. Rather, thanks to the fine work of writer-director Lynn Shelton(who also has a part), it is a mature exploration of relationships, as the one between Ben and Anna is about to change forever, just as sex can alter the dynamics of a relationship, too. Just don't listen to anybody who says having a baby is an adventure. It is a huge responsibility and this is Ben's last chance to be a part of Andrew's impromptu world and do something wild. For the record, I think people do get an erection(or the female equivalent) from bungee jumping due to the adrenaline but that's just because they are all insane. Hiking through Bhutan is much more style, if only I knew where it is.

• Glenn G

  
  A terrifically well-observed, uncomfortable comedy that makes you squirm more than laugh, but that's the point. Part Mumblecore, part Bromance, this low budget indie finds many interesting layers with human interactions and how we perceive each other. Alycia Delmore is… More
  A terrifically well-observed, uncomfortable comedy that makes you squirm more than laugh, but that's the point. Part Mumblecore, part Bromance, this low budget indie finds many interesting layers with human interactions and how we perceive each other. Alycia Delmore is wonderful as the wife who understands the lies that men tell more than they know. Mark Duplass makes the most out of every single awkward pause, and Joshua Leonard goes far beyond his BLAIR WITCH performance by showing us the "square" beneath every bohemian. This is a deliberately paced yet extremely intelligent, thought-provoking piece of work.

• Jeff T

  
  Here's something weird: I almost completely don't buy he central premise of this dirty little charmer, but I almost completely don't care and like it anyway. And my like borders very close to the land of love. Two dumpy straight guys decide to make a gay porn movie… More
  Here's something weird: I almost completely don't buy he central premise of this dirty little charmer, but I almost completely don't care and like it anyway. And my like borders very close to the land of love. Two dumpy straight guys decide to make a gay porn movie (that's the part I don't buy) and it makes them have long talks about their friendship and forces the one of them and his wife into a very complicated negotiation about their marriage. Oh and did I mention it's hilarious? And sweet? I had a grin on my face for the entire 93 minutes.

• Andrew F

  
  The semi-improvisational style of this "mumblecore" movie truly made it seem more believable. Great performances and very funny moments.

• Daniel P

  
  Realistic, improvised feeling 'bromance' taken to the next 'logical' step - this is a hilarious, surprisingly touching and wonderfully acted mumblecore film. Joshua Leonard (who I haven't heard much of since <i>Blair Witch</i>) and Mark Duplass are… More
  Realistic, improvised feeling 'bromance' taken to the next 'logical' step - this is a hilarious, surprisingly touching and wonderfully acted mumblecore film. Joshua Leonard (who I haven't heard much of since <i>Blair Witch</i>) and Mark Duplass are brilliant as the buddies who haven't seen each other for the best part of a decade, and as the film progresses it becomes less about the film they have bluffed each other into agreeing to make than what they want to achieve by making it. The buried sadness of Andrew's regrets of potential wasted, and Ben's admission of loneliness from when he first moved to Seattle are two especially standout moments in what is simply a very well made film, that just so happens to be extremely funny. The pitch perfect ending is also striking.

• Doctor S

  
  Two straight male friends from college engage in the ultimate game of chicken: during a drug & alcohol-fueled party, each challenges the other that they have sex together for a local porn film festival, and as the day of filming approaches neither seems willing nor able to… More
  Two straight male friends from college engage in the ultimate game of chicken: during a drug & alcohol-fueled party, each challenges the other that they have sex together for a local porn film festival, and as the day of filming approaches neither seems willing nor able to extricate himself from the project! Some funny moments throughout this study of male friendship (although interesting to note written by a woman) but loses steam and quickly runs out of fresh ideas beyond the premise. Furthermore, the motives of only one of the guys really makes sense. The conclusion does offer an ambiguously touching final scene. If you ever wondered what happened to Josh, the blond bearded guy from <i>The Blair Witch Project</i>, he wound up here in Seattle in a movie with seemingly an even smaller budget!

• matt s

  
  A movie with little to no funny jokes or gags. There's no truth to this film. It doesn't have to go as long as it goes. At some point, Mark Duplass' character can look the other guy in the face and say, "Grow up," but he has no balls. And seriously, nobody… More
  A movie with little to no funny jokes or gags. There's no truth to this film. It doesn't have to go as long as it goes. At some point, Mark Duplass' character can look the other guy in the face and say, "Grow up," but he has no balls. And seriously, nobody actually talks like this. If you do, you're the most self-conscious, self-righteous asshole out there. Movies like this make our generation look like shit. If you're a hippie, enjoy. Otherwise, this movie is no better than any other indie bullshit film, to which the Sigur response is thus: GET OVER IT.

• David S

  
  I watched this straight after 'An Education' and a greater contrast in film styles you couldn't find. However I really liked the central idea of the storyand thought that the (it seemed) semi-improvised dialogue was really believable and very funny because of that. As a… More
  I watched this straight after 'An Education' and a greater contrast in film styles you couldn't find. However I really liked the central idea of the storyand thought that the (it seemed) semi-improvised dialogue was really believable and very funny because of that. As a guy this really hit home but my wife also got into the story too and keen to see how they'd resolve it. The whole film is shot in a semi-documentary style and the sound is a bit dodgy from time to time but that is down to budget and not overally directing or acting quality. Personally I really liked this and thought it was low budget film-making at its best. It was also good to see Leonard in another film after only seeing him in Blair Witch and thinking he was the best thing in that. Here he is the best friend from hell but you can't help but love him. He makes a potentially unlikable character very endearing. A surprise find and one I'll definitely watch again.

• Barry L

  
  Dont be fooled by the 'dumb cheerleaderesq title' this film actually had a lot to say and it said it well. Okay the premis of two straight guys doing the nasty on film for their 'art' is bloody odd but the film explores what the effects would and could be for these… More
  Dont be fooled by the 'dumb cheerleaderesq title' this film actually had a lot to say and it said it well. Okay the premis of two straight guys doing the nasty on film for their 'art' is bloody odd but the film explores what the effects would and could be for these two straight men. Personally I wouldnt do either but then im married and straight too...so there...

• Quinto W

  
  At first I thought it was gonna be Zack and Miri meets I Love You, Man but it is so much more than just that. The three main performances are phenomenal and really do give credibility and sustain the story magnificently, and the movie itself explores the boundaries of… More
  At first I thought it was gonna be Zack and Miri meets I Love You, Man but it is so much more than just that. The three main performances are phenomenal and really do give credibility and sustain the story magnificently, and the movie itself explores the boundaries of "bromance", what we perceive ourselves to be as opposed to what we really are and our constant fear of having to fulfill a roll.

• Sunil J

  
  Wow. This movie was on my radar but I wasn't really interested until I sat down and gave it a shot. It's surprisingly sweet as well as bizarre in the indie charm way that some movies are. And I thought the acting was pretty good all a round.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings