Hump ​​Day (2009)

Directed by: Lynn Shelton | 94 minutes | comedy | Actors: Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, Alycia Delmore, Lynn Shelton, Trina Willard

In the American arthouse comedy ‘Humpday’, two friends intoxicated by drugs and alcohol decide to make a porn movie. In fact, a porn movie in which two straight men engage in gay sex. In fact, a porn movie in which they themselves play the leading role. And best of all, when the hash fumes have cleared the next day, the friends decide to go through with the plan.

The great thing about ‘Humpday’ is that director/screenwriter Lynn Shelton makes this premise plausible. At first, the male rivalry makes none of the friends want to back off. Later it turns out that more complex matters are involved. Shelton manages (albeit only just) to make these more complex matters believable, so acceptable to the viewer.

There are hardly any real jokes in ‘Humpday’, but some of the situations are hilarious. Like when married Ben tries to explain to his wife what Andrew and he are up to. The humor is mainly in the enormous detour he takes. It is also in such scenes that the sketchy characters come to life a bit.

The apotheosis is less successful. Not because it is unbelievable, but because it lasts so horribly long. The hustle and bustle of the new-fangled porn stars eventually gets boring. It is nice that the viewer will feel just as uncomfortable as the two friends.

The biggest problem of ‘Humpday’ is not in its quality but in tapping into the right audience. Arthouse aficionados will probably find the plot too adolescent, while mainstream fans will have no business with this film. ‘Humpday’ is not a typical bromance movie, nor does it resemble light-hearted arthouse like ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno’. In terms of style (documentary), dialogues and psychological treatment, ‘Humpday’ is more in the hard arthouse corner of ‘Shortbus’. But without explicit sex.

That wouldn’t be a problem for a masterful comedy, but ‘Humpday’ isn’t masterful. For that, the film lacks sharpness, character deepening and good jokes. ‘Humpday’ is nothing more than a nice comedy and a wise lesson for anyone who wants to make a porn movie with their best friend. And who doesn’t want that?