MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE played at SBIFF (Santa Barbara International Film Festival), and I had the opportunity to see an early look – here’s my Spoiler Free take:
MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE is a good-not-great character study that explores a veteran’s PTSD through a DROP DEAD FRED-like mechanism. It works best when it focuses on the relationship between sarcastic Zoe (Natalie Morales) and Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green). It falters with one too many running sequences and a few one-note supporting characters (I’m looking at you, Morgan Freeman and Gloria Reuben).
The film’s origin story made me want to see it. The writer/director turned the real-life veteran experience into a story of grief, loss, and survivor’s guilt. Yet, the most fascinating part was that he switched the genders of real-life people to adapt to women. I’ve seen movies where real-life stories are adapted into LEGO or monkeys, but this might be the first time they did a gender swap. And that gender swap makes the story even more powerful since it’s rare to see women’s perspectives of serving in the Army.
MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE is a well-intentioned dark comedy that is held together by the topic and the lead performances. It’s a love letter for audiences processing grief that should be viewed when needing inspiration. Just pack your “umbrella.”
It’s available in limited theaters this Friday 2/28.
