Workmates is a new kiwi film about Tom (Matt Whelan) and Lucy (Sophie Henderson) who manage the inner city theatre known as the Crystal Ballroom. Problem – Lucy is really bad at managing things, lives in the theatre illegally and has a nonchalance about safety that borders on the psychotic. It’s not sure if she’s lazy, got ADHD or is just basically self-centred.
Tom is married, and both he and Lucy claim they are just colleagues, but there’s an obvious attraction between them, and Tom prioritises Lucy’s needs over those of his pregnant wife who he claims to love but seems to treat with disdain.
When the theatre is closed for safety reasons and Lucy is fired, the two of them go an a fund raising drive that includes cozying up to a lecherous donor.
This is a very engaging film which is very well shot. Whelan and Henderson are both very accomplished actors and have a palpable chemistry on screen. In fact, they are so good together and funny that it is easy to miss the fact that they are both rather unpleasant characters and would be a nightmare to be involved with personally.
Cameron Rhodes is brilliant as the predatory millionaire philanthropist and his story arc suspiciously similar to a real life sexual scandal that rocked the artistic world in New Zealand a few years back.
All up Workmates is a charming and watchable film with some great performances.
WORKMATES
Starring: Sophie Henderson, Matt Whelan, Arlo Green, Aki Munroe, Chris Parker, Zoë Robins, Cameron Rhodes
Directed by: Curtis Vowell
Duration: 102 minutes
Open in New Zealand
