Review: RISING STAR Looks To Have a Bright Future

Rising Star is a romantic comedy that is written, directed and produced by Marty Lang, an independent filmmaker who is interestingly also a university professor of Film. One of the appeals of this film, at least for me, is therefore to see how Lang puts theories into practice. Pleasingly, Rising Star does not disappoint. It is light-hearted and unpretentious, unlike many of the romantic comedies coming out of Hollywood these days. 

Most of the film takes place on one Saturday. When the two lead characters, Chris (Gary Ploski) and Alyza (Emily Morse) travel from place to place after meeting each other and starting to fall in love, audiences get treated to a mini-tour around Connecticut, which includes both the attractions such as the famous Mark Twain House & Museum, and the neighborhood including the poorer areas. Having great company always makes travelling more fun, and the likeable Chris and Alyza certainly make the experience a joyful one. 

It is ultimately the witty conversations between the two characters, however, which make the journey worthwhile. One topic discussed that should resonate strongly with many viewers is finding the balance between work and passion. There are many lines of brilliance in the dialogue, thanks to a clever script written by Lang himself, and it certainly feels as if he has projected himself into the character of Chris. 

Also worth a mention is the fantastic music by Thomas Varga, and the film will probably benefit from featuring a couple more songs in its first half. Do make sure you stay behind when the end credits roll if you don't want to miss the hip-hop performance by rapper '3XL'. 

Rising Star is a wonderful independent film that audiences should find breezy, enjoyable and disarmingly charming. It may just be the most relaxing way for anyone to spend a couple of hours in a lazy afternoon.