IFC Midnight always ends up securing a place in my yearly top movie lists. New comedy movies hardly ever rank. Greener Grass is a good movie. This film is special. You should watch it. Don’t be fooled by the light-hearted feel of this black comedy, this is a must-see for lovers of quirky left-field laughs. Greener Grass’s main stars are also the writers and directors of this offbeat and nutty comedy. They are suitably likable as the best and worst of friends. The way the filmmakers decided to construct the delivery of the narrative, fits perfectly in tune with the overall tonal crack-pipe dialogue.
Writer-directors Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe are Jill and Lisa respectively. Both wear braces over perfectly straight teeth. The civility they offer to one another can only be rivaled by something akin to a Stepford Wives mentality.
Just Like Dance Moms, But Different
If you’ve seen or heard of ‘dance moms’ or in this case, ‘soccer moms’ then you may know what it’s like to feel the competitive stare of a friend or another mom. ‘Dance Moms’ are notorious for pulling out all stops when it comes to looking like they have it all together. Their kid is the best, their life is the best, and their way is the best.
Even if it’s unscrupulous and deceptive. Competitive friends are also commonplace. Maybe you are one of them. Perhaps you look at your circle of friends and think Tiffany is the bee’s knees of what your life should look like if only you had better clothes, better-behaved children, and a more handsome partner. Perhaps you strive to portray the shiniest outer shell even though life is crappy sometimes. Greener Grass intends to test that theory tenfold. Is the grass greener without the house, the pool, or, the child that pees on the furniture?
Not all comedy movies are made the same and Greener Grass is weird but emphatically clever. The moment finished watching this strange but memorable film, I couldn’t decide if I had understood it all let alone enjoyed it. However, the following day, I found myself compelled to tell people I had seen it. I mentioned it to people online. And now I’m flinging around one-liners and relating a lot of its themes to my everyday life. It’s that darn good. Also, it’s that darn unique and I can’t wait to watch it again.
The Story For Greener Grass, Why is it Always on the Other Side?
The story begins in what I can only describe as an alternate reality of sorts. Everything within this made-up suburban universe is trapped under the weight of perceived perfection and one-up-man-ship. The judgment of others is high on the playlist and planted as a firm subtext throughout the whole film. The color palette is insanely bright. Pastels and neons smear everything. Societal pressures and mishaps are blatantly on display at every turn. Manners, children, behavior, and status are all woven into the threads of two couples and their capacity to outdo each other.
Greener Grass Funny Movie Clip Instead of the Trailer
Rather than explain the best parts of this memorable 2019 comedy movie, the full trailer (one of my pet hates) includes many of them. It’s also likely to not convince you to see this. So instead, here’s a clip that highlights something I find personally relatable. And hilarious because kids are that random. Before the scene featured below, Julian and his dad are playing catch, and instead of catching the ball, Julian decides to be a statue, and the ball, of course, hits him. If that’s not enough to convince you to give this a shot, I tried.
Where to Watch the Greener Grass Movie
The Greener Grass movie is available to watch in the USA on the streaming platform Vudu as well as various other sites.
Greatest Comedy Movies Gems 2019
Overall, I loved the Greener Grass movie even if it does occasionally get sillier and weirder than I expected. Perhaps too silly for some, but in context, entirely appropriate.
I give Greener Grass
4 Twilsons out of 5
Greeer Grass Review
Director: Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe
Date Created: 2019-01-26 19:33
4
Pros
- Dry humour
- Fabulous set pieces and wardrobe
- Laugh-out-loud funny
Cons
- Comedy might not hit all target audiences
- Considered not mainstream
