In A World

My second showing of the 2013 Sundance London season represents (for one person at least) the very definition of the word obsession. Introducing the film, Lake Bell described it simply as "short and sweet", which as it turned out, was an incredibly accurate description. But then of all people, she should know, as in what can only be thought of as a dazzling display of control freakery, she is not only the writer of the film, but also the director, producer, provides the post-prod vocals for nearly every unseen character (male and female) and even takes some time out to try her hand in the starring role. Someone's got trust issues.

In A World is a comic look into the American film voice-over industry, and the personal and professional struggles of a girl trying to find her break. Whilst the presence of the nigh-on compulsory love-story is an obvious inclusion as a back drop, the main narrative actually follows Lake Bell's Carol Solomon as she comes up against the industry that made her father's name, and the sexism and family dysfunction that crops up along the way.

Say what you like, the Windows 95 shower curtain behind her is a nice touch.

Though not a rip-roaring guffaw fest, In A Word does carry some genuine comic weight. It does feel slightly forced in some places, and even though some of the acting is guilty of becoming unbearably over the top towards the end, hidden within the rest are some absolute gems of one liners and comedy facial expressions which seem to come so easily to the veritable star of the show. Just as personable in real life, Bell's first full length feature is a genuine labour of love, and even attracts cameos from Hollywood top flight in the form of Eva Longoria and Cameron Diaz. A-listers and despotic writer/director/leading ladies aside though, In A World does have one precious thing that very much earns it's place on the silver screen at Sundance; originality.