Review // Results

Results is a quirky indie romantic comedy from writer/director Andrew Bujalski. Set in Austin, Texas the film follows three central characters – Danny (Kevin Corrigan), Kat (Cobie Smulders), and Trevor (Guy Pearce). Trevor is a local gym owner and fitness guru who not only hawks his Fit 4 Life philosophy but also whole heartedly believes it. Kat is an acerbic, hard as nails fitness nut and Trevor’s best trainer. The pair are toxic for each other (aside from working together they also used to be casual sex partners) and yet also perfect for each other. When Danny, a recently divorced and newly rich New Yorker, moves into the neighbourhood, he signs up for personal training with Kat. After a misguided attempt to woo Kat results in Trevor beating Danny up, Trevor feels bad and agrees to train Danny himself. Finding an odd solace in each other’s company, the pair end up becoming friends, so when Trevor admits he loves Kat, Danny goes to bizarre lengths to get them together.

A high adrenaline film about a bunch of meat head workout buddies this is not. Results is quirky, cheerful, and features some of the most intriguing characters I’ve seen all year. Corrigan is perfectly cast as Danny, an overweight, pathetic pot head. He’s also the perfect catalyst for this off-beat love story. Smulders goes to the extreme with Kat but without making her into some dumb jock stereotype. She’s absolutely hilarious, as is Pearce, who I’ve never seen in a role like this. He’s endearing and likeable but also utterly clueless. It’s a fun dynamic seeing Trevor’s “perfect guy” getting life advice from his disaster of a client, Danny.

Bujalski cast first and built the characters based on the actors chosen to portray them. A smart move because the strength of Results is in the wonderful performances and their comic sensibilities.

Reviewed by Vithiya Murugadas.