Review: The Year of Spectacular Men

The Year of Spectacular Men finds actress Lea Thompson directing herself and her daughters Madelyn, who wrote the screenplay, and Zoey, who co-produced the film along with her father, director Howard Deutch, in this sweet and charming family affair which chronicles the titular period in twenty-something Izzy Klein's life.

Izzy is portrayed by Madelyn, who perfectly embodies the various descriptions attributed to her character by the series of mediocre men in her life. One describes her as "sexy in a goofy Special Olympics way," another remarks that she's more depressed and neurotic than he is, and another, her current boyfriend Aaron (Jesse Bradford), notes that she's the only one insecure enough to think he is the right one for her. Where Izzy is aimless and searching, her younger sister Sabrina (Zoey) is a type A personality who has established herself as a successful actress and who is in a long-term relationship with fellow actor Sebastian (Avan Jogia). The only thing that seems to rattle Sabrina's unflappable nature is her mom Deb's (Thompson) new relationship with a younger yoga enthusiast named Amythyst Stone (Melissa Bolona). Actually, as per Deb and Amythyst, theirs is not so much a relationship as two "soul walkers...on a journey."

Having been dumped by Aaron, Izzy decides to move in with Sabrina and Sebastian in their Los Angeles home and pursue an acting career. Yet she seems more intent to spend her days binge-watching The X-Files and stuffing food down her face than getting herself noticed by industry types. When Sabrina does finally convince her to see actual daylight, Izzy half-heartedly auditions and whole-heartedly throws herself in some more ill-advised relationships including one with Aaron's former bandmate and another with the director of Sabrina's latest project.

Though structured like a romantic comedy, the film is really not about Izzy finding her Mr. Right but rather growing up and discovering her own path in life. Thompson keeps things brisk and breezy and, whilst Deutch's screenplay may not be particularly original or insightful, there is much pleasure to be derived from hearing the back-and-forth dialogue between the sisters. Deutch makes for a charming neurotic, Zoey is as vivacious and delightful as ever and the two make perfectly clear that Thompson's winsome personality is alive and well in her progeny.

The Year of Spectacular Men

Directed by: Lea Thompson

Written by: Madelyn Deutch

Starring: Madelyn Deutch, Zoey Deutch, Lea Thompson, Melissa Bolona, Avan Jongia, Nicholas Braun, Jesse Bradford, Brandon T. Jackson, Cameron Monaghan, Zach Roerig