ZOOM (Pedro Morelli). Some subtitles. 97 minutes. See listing. Rating: NNN
Pedro Morelli’s Zoom follows the existential crises of two live-action women (Alison Pill, Mariana Ximenes) and one animated man (Gael García Bernal) as they chase creative fulfilment and deal with body issues.
The mix of live-action and rotoscoped animation makes Zoom a little different than most multi-character dramas, as does the notion that the characters never quite meet but still have a profound influence on one another’s lives.
The three storylines don’t carry equal weight – Pill’s just drifts away – and the metaphysics sort of break down in the movie’s final moments. But director Morelli makes the most of the sly streak of comedy running through Matt Hansen’s script, as does Don McKellar in a terrific supporting turn as García Bernal’s passive-aggressive producer. (Also fun: it’s unapologetically set in Toronto.)
And if nothing else, it’s still more engaging than executive producer Fernando Meirelles’s last kick at the ensemble can, the turgid 360.
normw@nowtoronto.com | @normwilner
