MQFF NOTES: The Intervention (2016, Dir. Clea DuVall)

I love it when respected actors pull out their directorial debuts. Mainly because, stepping behind the camera, they’ve got a developed understanding of how to direct, but also because they can usually call on some pretty big names to take on co-star duties. Clea DuVall comes through on both counts in her extremely well-tooled first feature (as writer and director), The Intervention.

She fills one ridiculously fancy mansion in Savannah with four couples-worth of issues. That’s four couples-worth of solid acting talent: DuVall herself, her But I’m A Cheerleader co-stars Natasha Lyonne and Melanie Lynskey, and familiar faces Ben Schwartz (‘Parks and Recreation’), Alia Shawkat (‘Arrested Development’) and Cobie Smulders (The Avengers) – basically four couples-worth or chemistry.

The Intervention’s intervention is directed at Smulders’ character Ruby and her husband Peter (Vincent Piazza), who are at each other’s throats to the point that her best friends (and siblings) Annie (Lynskey) and Jessie (DuVall) have decided it’d be best if they just divorced. Rogue brother, Jack (the attractively-bearded Schwartz), is an unwilling hanger-on in all this, though he does bring his much younger fling, Lola (Shawkat), to act as catalyst for the inevitable unearthing of the intervention instigators’ own relationship troubles, Jessie with her girlfriend Sarah (Lyonne) and Annie with her puppy dog fiancé Matt (Jason Ritter).

DuVall has pitched this hothouse dramedy to perfection and the performances of her cast do her proud. Comedy-wise, the timing is excellent across the board and the tumble of laughs that results is impressive (and I say this as someone who rarely laughs out loud). On the drama side, there’s quite a punch as well, with Smulders and Schwartz carrying much of that weight.

There’s so much to enjoy in The Intervention. It’s not a reach by any means but it does what it does with real character. It’s got that kick back and enjoy over and over again kind of vibe. It’ll definitely do the job when you’ve cracked a bottle and you’re looking to hit your friends with an under-appreciated gem.

★★★☆

Trailer:

The Intervention screened as part of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2017. 

You can check out other films from the festival here.