Stress Positions (film)

Stress Positions is a 2024 American comedy drama film directed by Theda Hammel. It stars John Early, Hammel, Qaher Harhash, Amy Zimmer, Faheem Ali, Rebecca F. Wright, Davidson Obennebo and John Roberts.

Stress Positions
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Theda Hammel
Written by	Faheem Ali Theda Hammel
Produced by	Brad Becker-Parton Greg Nobile Stephanie Roush John Early
Starring	John Early Theda Hammel Qaher Harhash Amy Zimmer Faheem Ali Rebecca F. Wright Davidson Obennebo John Roberts
Cinematography	Arelene Muller
Edited by	Erin DeWitt Theda Hammel
Music by	Theda Hammel
Production companies	Neon Seaview Roller Studios
Distributed by	Neon
Release dates	January 18, 2024 (2024-01-18) (Sundance) April 19, 2024 (2024-04-19) (United States)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$101,741^[1]

The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024. The film premiered in theaters on April 19, 2024.^[2]

Premise

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brooklyn, a Moroccan American young man named Bahlul (Qaher Harhash) recovers from a broken leg while quarantining with his uncle Terry (John Early).^[3][4]

Cast

• John Early as Terry Goon
• Qaher Harhash as Bahlul, Terry's nephew
• Elizabeth Dement as Abigail, Terry's sister and Bahlul's mother
• Theda Hammel as Karla, Terry's best friend
• Amy Zimmer as Vanessa, Karla's girlfriend
• Rebecca F. Wright as Coco, Terry's neighbor
• Faheem Ali as Ronald, a Grubhub worker
• Gordon Landenberger as Friendly Neighborhood Lunatic
• Elias Abawi as Lyft Driver
• John Roberts as Leo
• Davidson Obennebo as Hamadou
• Tarek Ziad as Tarek
• Joe Van O as Photographer
• Macy Rodman as Blonde Model
• Louisa Judge as Blonde Young Woman

Release

Stress Positions premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.^[5] It was released on April 19, 2024.^[6][7]

Reception

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 73% of 26 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10.^[8]

Much of the initial critical reaction to Stress Positions centered on the film's satirical approach to issues of race, gender, and sexuality.^[9][3] Writing for The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney deemed Stress Positions "busy but thin".^[10] Ryan Lattanzio of Indiewire noted the film's heavy-handed approach to social issues but praised the "wry humor" and the chemistry between Hammel and Early.^[11]

References

1. "Stress Positions". The Numbers. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
2. Lattanzio, Ryan (March 26, 2024). "'Stress Positions' Trailer: John Early Has a COVID Breakdown in a Brilliantly Anxious New York Comedy". IndieWire. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
3. Complex, Valerie (19 January 2024). "'Stress Positions' Review: Noise Undercuts Nuance In Theda Hammel's Neon Dramedy – Sundance Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
4. Zilko, Christian; Blauvelt, Christian (20 January 2024). "Watch the 'Stress Positions' Cast Discuss Finding the 'Metaphoric Potential' That Turned COVID Into Comedy". Indiewire. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
5. n.a. "2024 Sundance Film Festival Announces 91 Projects Selected for the Feature Films, Episodic, and New Frontier Lineup for 40th Edition". Sundance. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
6. "Stress Positions". Neon. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
7. Lattanzio, Ryan (March 26, 2024). "'Stress Positions' Trailer: John Early Has a COVID Breakdown in a Brilliantly Anxious New York Comedy". IndieWire. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
8. "Stress Positions". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
9. Rizov, Vadim (19 January 2024). "Sundance 2024: Stress Positions, Veni Vidi Vici". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
10. Rooney, David (19 January 2024). "'Stress Positions' Review: Even John Early Can't Whip Up Much Excitement in Frantic Queer Pandemic Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
11. Lattanzio, Ryan (19 January 2024). "'Stress Positions' Review: John Early Is Brilliant in a COVID Comedy That Sees Millennials for Who They Really Are". Indiewire. Retrieved 22 January 2024.

External links

• Stress Positions at IMDb