Recovery | SXSW 2021 Film Review

The number one response among hearing about coronavirus movies is “absolutely not”. Look, I get it. We’ve lived (and are living) with the virus, there is no need for it to infect our cinematic escape as well. But Recovery does the impossible – it makes light and laughter of a horrible situation, giving ease and even bittersweet reflection to such a burdensome experience.

COVID-19 is making its sudden rounds across the United States, and Jamie and Blake’s Nana (grandma) is stuck in her nursing home during an outbreak. These two sisters – understandably fearful for their nana’s safety – set out on a cross-country adventure to save her. They can’t take planes or trains, but they can take their own automobile, or… someone’s automobile. 

One of the elements that makes Recovery so wonderful is the balance between story and screen-time for both Whitney Call and Mallory Everton. As Black, Everton is our true stand-out, also working as co-writer (along with Call) and co-director. Everton is exactly what we’ve all needed this past year of enduring a pandemic; she is the ever-present humor that our everyday has been missing. While journeying with Jamie (Whitney Call), Blake suffers a case of the butt-text to the guy she’s been swooning over, Scott, by accidentally sending the same meme multiple times over. It’s weird, it’s quirky, and it’s hilarious. Everton’s outrageously hysterical reactions to COVID-19, dancing fits, and exaggerated responses to Jamie make for an absolutely delightful 80 minutes. 

Everton is not without, though. Her co-lead, Whitney Call, offers a less frantic but somehow more frazzled sister in Jamie that is just trying to keep her pet mice alive and her job as a teacher, while saving her nana. Jamie’s moments of hilarity are less from her dialogue and more often attributed to Call’s performance, which gives life to Blake. The pair continuously pings off each other for the entirety of the film’s runtime, and throughout their chemistry is palpable. 

What seemingly starts off as a COVID-19 movie, quickly transitions into so much more, but it’s all done with fun and laughter at the core of it. Everton and Call have a clear intention with the film’s script and it never once feels distressing to see the pandemic on the big (or home size) screen. Despite being a film about saving someone from a coronavirus breakout, Recovery is brilliant in making COVID-19 the background of the story and bringing the relationships to the forefront. By the film’s conclusion, Call and Everton have accomplished the impossible and allowed you to truly relish in the humor of life through the lens of a road-trip. 

Follow our further discussion on over 30 film and episodic premieres screened at SXSW 2021 via this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: