In the hilarious comedy "In a World," Lake Bell takes on the role of a 30-something girl named Carol who still lives with her father, Sam (a big-shot voice-over artist played by Fred Melamed), and is trying her luck as a voice coach. Sam is part of the old school voice over industry, and doesn't believe that Carol will be successful in voice-overs because she's a woman. Written and directed by Lake Bell, the film won the Sundance 2013 Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for the script.
This is my favorite performance by Lake Bell yet. She turns Carol from an awkward voice teacher to a lovable success story, making her so clueless of her own potential that you cheer for her all the way. Even when she ends up unknowingly sleeping with her father's co-worker and apprentice (Ken Marino, who can also be seen in the web series "Burning Love"), she tells her sister right away: "Guess who's a slut whore?" She's so spontaneous that you don't have time to judge her.
In addition, her relationship with her sister Dani (played by Michaela Watkins) brings the audience into the character's fears and insecurities, inside their "Sister Code," and it is a bridge to the relationship with their father, showing how he hasn't been around enough to support them.
This film is one of the few sensitive female-driven comedies I've seen out there that strips down the character emotionally by making smart choices, without relying on easy jokes; it's also a metaphor for women speaking up and being proud of their voices, without being cheesy. It has all the elements of a good drama, but still makes you laugh.
In theaters on August 9th! Check out the trailer here:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpFNTvA93iY[/youtube]
IN A WORLD...also stars Fred Melamed (A Serious Man), Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine), Demetri Martin (“Important Things with Demetri Martin”), Michaela Watkins (“Enlightened”), Ken Marino (“Burning Love”), Nick Offerman (“Parks and Recreation”), Alexandra Holden (The Hot Chick) and Tig Notaro (“The Sarah Silverman Program”).
