Long Weekend (2021 film)
Long Weekend | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Steve Basilone |
Written by | Steve Basilone |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Felipe Vara de Rey |
Edited by |
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Music by | Lauren Culjak |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Stage 6 Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $528,438[1] |
Long Weekend is a 2021 American romantic science fiction comedy-drama film written and directed by Steve Basilone.[2] The film stars Finn Wittrock, Zoë Chao, Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Jim Rash and tells the story of a down-on-his-luck struggling writer named Bart (Wittrock) who meets Vienna (Chao), an enigmatic woman who enters his life at the just the right time.
The film was released in theaters on March 12, 2021. It was well-received by critics, who praised Wittrock and Chao's performances as well as the film's "unexpected twist."[3] Currently, the movie has grossed $528,438 in the United States.[4]
Plot[]
Bart is down on his luck after he has to take a job at a medical office and move in to the garage at the house of his best friend Doug, who is married to Rachel and has two kids. He is broke after failing to make any money off of the novel he wrote and depressed from his girlfriend Whit breaking up with him, ignoring his psychiatrist's phone calls.
Bart goes to watch a movie and falls asleep drunk in the theater, awaking to a random girl named Vienna telling him the movie is over. They start talking and hit it off right away, going on a date at a bar and then having sex in Vienna's motel room. Bart and Vienna soon start to connect over their mothers both having cancer, but Bart's mom had passed years ago yet he was inspired by her to write his novel after she grew more concerned about her happiness in her last few months.
Bart confronts Vienna about her oddities and she either tries to change the subject or gives vague answers, such as she works for the government. They go to Bart's old apartment, which is still in the process of being sold and moving in the new tenants, to discuss it in private. She reveals that she is from the future, working for a secret government branch that has discovered time travel in 2052 and using it to buy stocks that will be valuable at that time so she can cure her mom of cancer.
Bart tells Doug the next day, who advises him to eventually get her help just like how he got Bart help when he had a mental breakdown after his mom passed. Bart and Vienna grow even more attached, as they feel comfortable enough to trust each other to have mutual access to a safe deposit box containing the stocks Vienna bought for her mom.
They spend a night together camping in the desert, only for Bart to wake up to Vienna crying by herself a mile or so away. She later reveals that staying in the past for too long messes up one's brain chemistry. As they have an at-home pasta dinner date later on, she starts moaning in pain and finds it hard to breathe. Bart gets scared and heeds Doug's advice by taking her to the hospital for an assessment the next day. As she's about to walk to the doctor's office, Bart has a nosebleed and faints. He wakes up in a hospital bed with bandages on his head and Doug by his side, who explains to him that they found a tumor in his brain yet it was small enough to remove right away.
Cast[]
- Finn Wittrock as Bart
- Zoë Chao as Vienna
- Damon Wayans Jr. as Doug
- Casey Wilson as Rachel
- Wendi McLendon-Covey as Patricia
- Jim Rash as Larry
- as Teddy
Production[]
In September 2019, Finn Wittrock, Zoë Chao, Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Jim Rash joined the cast of the film, with Steven Basilone directing from a screenplay he wrote in 2017.[5][6] Principal photography took place for a month and wrapped on August 23, 2019.[7]
Release[]
In February 2021, Stage 6 Films acquired distribution rights to the film, and set it for a March 12, 2021, release.[8][9][10]
Box office[]
In its first weekend the film made $245,182.
Reception[]
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 67% based on 42 reviews, with an average rating of 6.50/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "A seemingly traditional rom-com distinguished by an unexpected twist, Long Weekend benefits from stars who make a great screen couple."[3] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 53 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[11] According to PostTrak, 55% of audience members gave the film a positive score, with 32% saying they would definitely recommend it.[12]
References[]
- ^ "Long Weekend". The Numbers. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "'Long Weekend' Summary & Ending, Explained - A Span That Brings Hope | DMT". Digital Mafia Talkies. May 13, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ a b "Long Weekend (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "Long Weekend - Box Office Mojo". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ McNary, Dave (September 26, 2019). "Finn Wittrock, Zoe Chao to Star in Romance Drama 'Long Weekend'". Variety.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (September 26, 2019). "Finn Wittrock & Zoe Chao Topline Indie 'Long Weekend'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Basilone, Steve [@sbasilone] (August 24, 2019). "Two years ago I wrote a little movie that was all about loss and love and how chance encounters with strangers can sometimes get you through the hardest things in your life— and last night we wrapped shooting that little movie. I was surrounded by truly the hardest working, most talented, and genuinely warm people who all made me look like I even had the smallest clue as to what I was doing as a director. I've been super emotional since wrapping and that was not helped when my AD (a gentle Athenian man) said last night: "there's kindness in all of us, we just have to give the opportunity for it to come out." Hoping this project of mine will give that opportunity to a few people. In the meantime, I'm going to go get drunk and weepy with the family that helped turn this little dream into a reality. Here are a few of my fave pics from the last month. Hope you enjoy them. Love you". Retrieved July 5, 2021 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production - Long Weekend". Variety Insight. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (February 18, 2021). "Sony's Stage 6 Films Lands 'Long Weekend' Rom-Com Starring Finn Wittrock, Zoë Chao & Damon Wayans Jr". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ D’Alessandro, Anthony (February 19, 2021). "The Nightingale': Elle And Dakota Fanning's WWII Sisters Pic Pushed Another Year – Again". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "Long Weekend (2021) Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 12, 2021). "'Raya And The Last Dragon' Eyeing $5.7M Second Weekend B.O. As Exhibition Slowly Repairs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
External links[]
- Long Weekend at IMDb
- 2021 films
- English-language films
- 2020s English-language films
- 2020s science fiction comedy-drama films
- 2021 romantic comedy-drama films
- American films
- American romantic comedy-drama films
- American science fiction comedy-drama films
- Films about depression
- Stage 6 Films films