The Go-Getters

The Go-Getters is a razor-sharp Canadian comedy directed by Jeremy LaLonde, released in 2018, featuring Aaron Abrams and Tommie-Amber Pirie in lead roles, and Kristian Bruun in a supporting role. Aaron Abrams, credited with co-writing the script alongside Brendan Gall, portrays Owen, an abrasive alcoholic, while Pirie stars as Lacie, a drug-addicted sex worker.

The Go-Getters cuts to the quick with its delivery, introducing audiences to a unique tone and style that sets it apart from traditional comedic films. Pairing a cynical sense of humour with characters that are far from virtuous, it produces something novel and impressive that reinstates belief in independent, underground films.

Set in the grim and unpolished backdrop of Toronto’s downtown, the movie unravels amidst derelict pubs, dingy motel rooms, and urine-soaked alleyways. Despite the dark and somewhat grotesque setting, the film manages to weave a story that is peculiarly captivating, owing significantly to the performances delivered by its lead characters.

At the core of The Go-Getters is a crude, offbeat buddy comedy that leans into its destructive instinct and stinking circumstances with extraordinary gusto. Abrams' performance as Owen is masterfully coarse and full of self-deprecating humour. He navigates his role with tremendous energy, making Owen pitiful yet captivating all at once. Then there's Pirie, who plays the foul-mouthed, quick-tempered Lacie with such believability that you forget she's acting. Their chemistry, while unorthodox, is undeniable and breathes life into the film's narrative. This is not a conventional love story but an oddly compelling connection between two societal outcasts.

Their motley duo find themselves stuck in a codependent relationship, an awkward alliance, of sorts. Together, they hatch an absurd plan to raise money with the ultimate goal of leaving Toronto, turning their back on a world that seems to have turned its back on them. The plot takes the audience through a series of escalating escapades, each more deranged and outrageous than the last. But amidst the chaos, hilarity, and despair, the movie offers an endearing, raw, and realistic commentary on life in the margins.

The eccentric supporting cast, including a particularly exuberant performance from the talented Kristian Bruun, only adds to the film’s flavour. Each character Owen and Lacie encounter on their desperate journey present their unique flavours of chaos and comedy that augment the narrative's quick and punchy rhythm.

Director Jeremy LaLonde navigates the chaos with dash and vigour. He looks past the grit and presents a film that churns out laughter with its candidness and ballsy comedic trope. The vibrant and eccentric style of direction adds a surreal touch, combining striking silent moments with fast-paced, manoeuvred chaos.

The Go-Getters boasts of a sharp script that does not shy away from displaying the grotesque realities of life. Here is a narrative that dips its toe in the waters of black comedy, yet succeeds in effortlessly humanising its characters, serving as a merited reminder of the stories and experiences that exist at the fringes of organized society.

Aaron Abrams and Brendan Gall's screenplay offers no apologetic brush-ups of the characters' lives. The dialogues are unabashedly brash and hard-hitting, adding a distinct flavour to the storytelling. Yet, despite the macabre themes and scenarios, the script maintains a capricious tone that allows for an undercurrent of sombre reflection, surrealism, and the occasional bout of dark humour.

The cinematography also brilliantly captures the bleaker side of the city. It offers a series of frames filled with muted colours and pronounced shadows, which perfectly portrays a bleak Toronto through a lens that’s as raw and uncompromising as its lead characters.

This, however, is not a film for everyone. The raunchy, crude humour, coupled with the grim realities of life it showcases, could deter viewers in search of light, wholesome comedic relief. The Go-Getters is a raw, unfiltered examination of life on the fringes that does not shy away from using comedy as a tool to emphasize its odd and harsh realities.

All in all, The Go-Getters captures attention with its refreshing perspective, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate offbeat comedies and aren't afraid of an occasional plunge into the darker side of humour.