The Browsing Effect
2019
by Paulette Reynolds
April 9, 2019
Directed and Written by Michael K. Feinstein
Starring Megan Guinan/Melissa, Drew Fonteiro/James, Josh Margolin/Ben, Nikki SooHoo/Rachel, Gabriela Lopez/Gabriela, Larry Powell/Lawrence, Josh Weber/Dustin, David Hull/Todd, Angel Andres Garret/Marco
2019
by Paulette Reynolds
April 9, 2019
Directed and Written by Michael K. Feinstein
Starring Megan Guinan/Melissa, Drew Fonteiro/James, Josh Margolin/Ben, Nikki SooHoo/Rachel, Gabriela Lopez/Gabriela, Larry Powell/Lawrence, Josh Weber/Dustin, David Hull/Todd, Angel Andres Garret/Marco
The Browsing Effect follows a group of iGeneration friends as they traverse the rocky path of love and commitment in the age of social media.
Ben, the long-suffering cynic, is unable to move on after a long breakup with Rachel, a narcissist with little patience for anyone who doesn't put her needs first. She "wants more" but doesn't quite know just what it is that she lacks.
Ben, the long-suffering cynic, is unable to move on after a long breakup with Rachel, a narcissist with little patience for anyone who doesn't put her needs first. She "wants more" but doesn't quite know just what it is that she lacks.
Melissa (Mel) is unable to make any firm decisions regarding her life and seeks constant validation from James, her fiancee. She convinces him that they should double-team on Tinder for more excitement, but her suggestion soon leads James - and Ben - into the weeds of serial dating and endless scrolling for comfort.
Lawrence, the old-school philosopher, shares his profound skepticism about online dating over lunch, "A grape is a grape”, he sagely observes. He prefers hanging out at their local cafe, shyly longing after his 'grape', a waiter by the name of Marcos.
Michael Feinstein encourages his characters to examine the same ideas about dating and relationships that people have been grappling since the beginning of time. “In this film I wanted to express both the wide range of motivations and emotions that cause so many different types of people to put themselves out their online as well as the varying consequences of that. By making the film an ensemble romance that shifts tonally from comedy to drama and back again I feel I was able to depict several different types of perspectives that aren't usually seen in the average romantic comedy...”
The Browsing Effect highlights the excitement - and emptiness - of having too many options, and how online dating impacts a generation used to having everything "their way". Feinstein's deft treatment and wry humor keeps this cautionary tale from sounding like an advertisement for social media apps, but at the same time, I couldn't help but wonder if some Tinder money exchanged hands.
COPYRIGHT 2012/2019. Paulette Reynolds. All CineMata Movie Madness blog articles, reviews, faux interviews, commentary, and the Cine Mata character are under the sole ownership of Paulette Reynolds. All intellectual and creative rights reserved.
