A Review of ‘Do I Shock U Like Lightening’: A musical tragicomedy that hits the right notes for most part
A failed guitarist gets a second shot at pursuing his passion when a lyric-smith young lady enters his life.
‘Do I Shock U Like Lightening’: A musical tragicomedy that hits the right notes most of the time
Cast: Omar Maskati, Malia Aiello, Malcolm Nichols, Sierra Santana, Alberto Henriquez, Aaron LaMarr Burleson, Ryan P. McCabe, Malgosia Tolak, Kelsey Darragh, Craig Low, Sigi Ravet, Charles Rogers
Critic’s Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5
Director: Kahlil Maskati
Duration: 1 hour, 37 minutes
Genre: Musical, Drama, Comedy, Romance
Language: English
Release: 2024
What’s it about?
A failed guitarist gets a second shot at pursuing his passion when a lyric-smith young lady enters his life.
Review:
The musical genre gets a shot in the arm courtesy this refreshingly uplifting and affecting release. Though some viewers might find the romance and drama a tad sentimental and occasionally schmaltzy, the original songs, offbeat levity, pleasing cinematography and likeable characters are guaranteed to sustain attention. “Music is the soundtrack of our lives,” proclaims the guitarist protagonist Wardy (Omar Maskati), “What happens when the music stops?” This profound statement establishes the premise of the film as the has-been singer-songwriter struggles to regain his mojo. This he does at a practically empty amphitheatre in a Los Angeles park. Wardy who thinks of himself as a “cliché” performs his compositions which are devoid of any lyrics, indicating that he is at an unprofound place in his life.
Then the spark most likely to reignite Wardy’s passion for song crosses paths with him - in the form of the amiable and musically-inclined Ellie (Malia Aiello). The two hit it off when they perform a spontaneously composed duet with the young lady waxing lyrical over Wardy’s appealing chords. However, marring this relationship from blossoming further is the fact that Wardy is soon headed to New Jersey and Ellie feels obligated to accompany her boyfriend Adam (Malcolm Nicholas) to Pittsburgh. But these creative souls feel compellingly drawn to each other, especially when they realise that they possess symbiotic song-writing skills. Meanwhile, Wardy seems to share a tense and uneasy relationship with his father (Alberto Henriquez) and follows an odd to-do list. One item on this agenda is reconnecting with his non-committal girlfriend Jalisa (Sierra Santana).
The film’s humour, while mostly sweet and endearing, is also peculiar at times. What’s more, Wardy imagines himself breaking into song when he thinks of those persons whom he shares strained relations with. The conversations between the film’s two stars rings true at times and seems a bit contrived on other occasions. Can the duo limit their interaction to simply making music or will mutual affection and love take over? It is clear that singing has been central to their lives even though they eventually found themselves in boring and thankless jobs. Boosting the film’s appeal is a gimmick that Wardy and Ellie attempt in the belief that it will turn back Time to a happier, more productive and rewarding place. Then, there’s Ellie’s habit of watching a wonky TV set and her circle of friends performing a crazy ritual while trying to open a stubborn bottle cap!
The real star of this film is the handful of songs, which includes Ellie and Wardy’s collaborative titular number; a despondent Wardy’s plea to God; his promising single 'Perfect Day' and the heartfelt closing number 'Everyone, Everything'. When a tragic couple of revelations emerge in the film’s third act, the audience is induced into wondering how Wardy and Ellie will react and whether a resolution is in the offing. Also, the supporting cast which includes peer groups of the two leads and a bizarre therapist (Charles Rogers) adds substance to the film, as does the often insightful dialogue. However, the film tends to drag in a couple of scenes and ought not to take so much time to reach where it’s headed. Still, the mostly sunny camerawork more than compensates, especially when repeating the shot of a grassy incline.
For those expecting the thunderbolt during their search for a loving partner, Do I Shock U Like Lightning might present a refreshing perspective. However, some scenes, especially when Wardy opens his heart to Ellie does not unfold as compellingly as it should. But the notion of personal regret and the act of salvaging what’s left of our lives are conveyed pretty affectively. Producer-director-writer Kahlil Maskati proves to quite the auteur here with this labour of love, while also composing all the featured songs in the film. All in all, this musical which possesses elements of other genres is sure to strike a chord with most of the audience.
