This review was originally published as a part of our SXSW 2021 coverage. Stop and Go is now available on digital and in select theaters.
Do you remember when we used to have hopes and dreams? That’s a common feeling for millions around the world who are currently in the midst of contending with COVID-19. It was just a little over a year ago that we were all making plans for the near and distant future. Your favorite band was coming to town in a few months? Can’t wait! Want to make this birthday special and finally check out that restaurant we have been saving for a special occasion? Put it on the books! This was the case for sisters Jamie (Whitney Call) and Blake (Mallory Everton) Jerikovic, who in February 2020 were dreaming of a year full of travel, new relationships, and a healthy Tom Hanks. Two weeks later and the world is turned upside down by a global pandemic. Fate thankfully spared the life of our nation’s most valuable resource, Tom Hanks, but all other thoughts of fun and connectivity were thrown into the garbage. Jamie was just getting some street cred with her fourth grade students by adopting Bert and Ernie, two pet mice, while Blake had recently had an epic make-out session with someone who is potential boyfriend material that may have verged slightly on exhibitionism. All of that progress down the drain.
The idea of watching a comedy about COVID-19 while we are still very much in the midst of the virus is a draining experience in theory, but the script from Call and Everton, who also co-directed with Call’s partner Stephen Meek, surprisingly finds a way to tap into the hilarity within the tragedy. We all have our disinfecting rituals after we have been out in public, and what is one to do when there are only cucumbers left at the grocery store? Can a new potential romance survive on Kermit GIFs alone? These are only some of the topics explored to laugh-out-loud ends.
Perhaps the number one concern among most people is making sure their loved ones are safe and secure. When Jamie and Blake learn that their grandmother’s nursing home out of state has had a COVID outbreak, they realize they have to jump into action and save Nana (Anne Sward Hansen) – you cannot abandon Nana. Of course, the simple solution would be to have their sister, Erin (Julia Jolley), who lives a mere few miles from the nursing home, get their precious grandmother, but we all have that family member who we try not to yell at for living recklessly. For some unknown reason, the price for a cruise is at rock bottom prices and she is out to sea, but she will be more than happy to pick up Nana when she docks in three days. The race is on for the sisters to get from New Mexico to Washington before an irresponsible Erin or randy COVID-infected nursing home resident gets to Nana.
The refreshing thing about Stop and Go is that even though COVID is the catalyst for the story, the film fits nicely into the mold of classic road trip comedies with plenty of laughs mined from other subjects. No journey would be complete without a riveting game of “deal breaker” – could you date someone with rotisserie chicken hands? – and a recurring gag with an audiobook never ceases to elicit laughs. Not since fellow SXSW-alum Booksmart has female friendship been portrayed so effortlessly and realistically. It does not hurt that Call and Everton have been real-life friends for over twenty years. The sisterly banter they have on screen is not easy to manufacture, and any given moment feels lived-in and not in any way performative. These two spark such joy from their little quirks, such as Everton’s penchant for adapting the vocal intonation reminiscent of an actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Their minds are so quick and sharp that you have to wonder, if they can make COVID jokes that have you laughing so hard that you cry, how great would they be during “normal” times?
Many filmmakers have tried to adapt to the new pandemic-afflicted world, but few have been as creatively successful as this creative team. The current reality is a major part of this world, but at the same time there is not an over-reliance on using FaceTime to advance the plot or other such cliches that make the film seem dated. For a film shot with a skeleton crew of people during the pandemic, the production value of the film is quite striking. You may not feel that you are ready to laugh about the pandemic, but Stop and Go is the unrelentingly hilarious, life-affirming comedy that is here to show you that it is okay to laugh.
Director: Mallory Everton and Stephen Meek
Writer: Whitney Call and Mallory Everton
Rated: NR
Runtime: 80m
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
