Coming to select theaters TODAY in the New York area is romantic comedy 3rd Street Blackout.
The film was created by Negin Farsad and Jeremy Redleaf. The film also stars Ed Weeks (“The Mindy Project”), Phyllis Somerville (Little Children), Janeane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer), John Hodgman (Pitch Perfect 2, “The Daily Show”), Jordan Carlos (“The Nightly Show”), and Sasheer Zamata (“Saturday Night Live”).
3rd Street Blackout would be considered a romantic comedy (or “Rom-Com”).
Farsad and Redleaf play the couple Mina and Rudy. They are the ultimate tech nerds. Their world revolves around technology.
Mina is a Neuroscientiest and TED speaker (I’m not 100% sure what TED really is). Rudy develops apps.
They both have a nerdy look to them too.
The couple share an apartment on 3rd street.
Their world is nothing but high tech stuff. They spend all their time on their computers – both at work and at home. They have no lives outside of each other and their technology.
When Hurricane Sandy hits the New York City area, Mina and Rudy lose power in their apartment. Not only does that mean no lights, but also no power for their devices, no TV, no nothing!
Suddenly Mina and Rudy have to do something they are not accustom to – talk to one another and NOT have thier heads buried in their computers.
For most people socially interacting with someone face-to-face is not that big of a deal, but for these two it’s difficult.
Their blackout conversation results in a serious argument, and Rudy flees the apartment. He heads off to Brooklyn (the couple’s place is in Manhattan).
Without their computers, Mina has no way to reach out to Rudy to try and win him back. She has to resort to actually talking and connecting to people including her friends and neighbors. Hopefully, with their help, she can find a way to get back together with Rudy.
Will the couple get back together? Will they learn a valuable lesson about socializing with people in the real world compared to computers? What lessons will be learned? To find out you need to go see 3rd Street Blackout.
I am not sure where the film will be playing so please visit the official website to learn more about it. The film’s official website is 3rdStreetBlackout.com. You can also check out the film on social media. All of the links are found at the bottom of the film’s website.
This is a quirky film. Initially I did’t really connect with the characters, but as time went on in the film they started to grow on me.
I think A LOT of people are like Mina and Rudy. They don’t know how to experience and appreciate life “off line.” I know that is true with my teenage daughter. Her phone is practically glued to her hands. She never bothers to look up from it and as a result she had NO CLUE how to get to/from her job without us giving her directions. How pathetic is that.
I think any people will relate to the characters.
In a way I think there is a message in this film, and that is that technology doesn’t replace real life. I think that is a message we all need to take to heart. Sure, it’s great to connect with family and friends online who live far away, but when it come to those people who live near to us we need to put down our computers and phones and engage with them face-to-face before we lose the skills to socialize.
I liked this film. My husband wasn’t really a fan of it, but that’s OK. We all have a right to our opinions.
Here is the film’s trailer for your enjoyment.
Kimberly
*I received a free screener copy to review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.