Results (2015)

3 Stars (out of 4)

True Fit

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

The great indie director Andrew Bujalski -- known as "the godfather of mumblecore" (Funny Ha Ha, Mutual Appreciation, Beeswax, and Computer Chess) -- makes his mainstream debut (if you can call it that) with Results. In actuality, it's his first movie with professional Hollywood stars and his first movie to be shot on digital video, but it's far from a sellout.

Kevin Corrigan stars in a role written specifically for him; he's Danny, a flabby, pasty guy who recently inherited millions. With no idea what to do with his money, he smokes pot, noodles around on his guitar and posts ads on Craigslist offering hundreds of dollars for simple tasks performed (like hooking up his TV). He half-heartedly decides to get in shape and heads to a gym run by fitness guru Trevor (Guy Pearce). Trevor's top trainer Kat (Cobie Smulders) volunteers for the assignment, but it's not long before Danny becomes attracted to her and makes a very awkward move to win her. Trevor is initially outraged, but he eventually befriends Danny, who seems interested in investing in a new gym facility for Trevor's company.

Giovanni Ribisi has a small part as a lawyer/drug dealer that's so good you want to see more of him. And Anthony Michael Hall steals all his scenes as a Russian YouTube fitness guy, the so-called "master of the kettle-bells."

There's actually very little plot, and the movie's dynamic is centered around this trio and how they affect one another emotionally. It's not like one of those Hollywood movies wherein an uptight character learns how to live from a happy-go-lucky one... it's just that they all become a little more aware of who they each are.

Bujalski's gift for naturalistic dialogue, spoken by intelligent characters that nevertheless have a hard time articulating just what they want, is still here, though it's a bit more polished, with more emphasis on humor. (In one hilarious scene, a jogging Kat chases after one of her clients, spotted eating a cupcake.) He also uses Austin, Texas locations so well that the city appears to have its own bearing on the characters' personalities. It's hard to argue that Results is anything profound, but it's highly enjoyable watching it casually pry open three oddball personalities and finding the humans in each.