Shadows on the Wall | Glitter & Doom

Glitter & Doom

dir Tom Gustafson
scr Cory Krueckeberg
prd Cory Krueckeberg, Tom Gustafson, Hunter Arnold, Ale Garcia, Alejandra Cardenas
with Alex Diaz, Alan Cammish, Ming-Na Wen, Missi Pyle, Amy Ray, Emily Saliers, Tig Notaro, Lea DeLaria, Alejandra Bogue, Viry Dimayuga, Ali Salguero, Kate Pierson
release US 8.Mar.24
23/US 1h55

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Drenched in colour and peppered with Indigo Girls songs, this charming musical romantic comedy has such buoyant energy that it easily puts a smile on our faces. Director Tom Gustafson, writer Cory Krueckeberg and fresh-faced stars Alex Diaz and Alan Cammish create an almost effortlessly charming vibe that sparks brightly even before the fireworks go off. So while the narrative feels a bit over-stretched, it still wins us over.

On their very first encounter, wannabe circus performer Glitter (Diaz) and aspiring musician Doom (Cammish) have an instant connection. While Glitter has set 29 days as a deadline before he heads to circus school in Paris, Doom is struggling to adapt his gloomy music to appeal to an audience and say something meaningful about love. They get to know each other by escaping to go camping in the woods. And now they inspire and enable each other to pursue their dreams. But both will also have to deal with their mothers (Wen and Pyle).

When Doom refers to himself as gravity, Glitter replies that he's levity. Indeed, Doom is searching for someone to be the keeper of his heart, while Glitter falls in love with almost every boy he meets. Their feelings and yearnings are revealed through songs that are performed with a huge amount of heart, often in enormous production numbers that come complete with glorious dance choreography in spectacular settings.

Diaz and Cammish have a terrific yin-and-yang chemistry that ripples throughout their banter, and their voices harmonise adorably together. Each finds depth in his character, creating two parallel journeys of self-discovery alongside their achingly romantic partnership. As Glitter's supportive mother Ivy, Wen adds some lovely layers of parental affection, while Pyle has an even trickier role as Doom's wayward-addict mum Robin.

Inventively, the lavish magical sequences allow the filmmakers to look deeper at the central themes, bringing huge feelings out into the open through music and movement. And in between, there are moments of gritty realism scattered in between the shimmering fantasy sequences. Because of the rom-com plot structure, the running time begins to feel overlong. But it's so beautifully shot, edited and played that we never want it to end.

themes, language, sexuality 8.Mar.24

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