YALE (2026)

June 18, 2026

Opening night feature at 2026 Dances With Films LA

Greetings again from the darkness. Sometimes I believe the best use of cinema is in proving the old adage, ‘truth is stranger than fiction’. Combining that with the mission of Dances With Films to remain a festival that highlights independent filmmaking, featuring director Jay Silverman’s film on Opening Night is a fitting choice. It’s a remarkable story that writer Van Billet based on his own family. We can only imagine some of those holiday memories.

Caitlin McGee (“Bluff City Law”) stars as “Mac”, a flawed woman who is also a successful horror writer. Her agent (the always terrific Rachael Harris) is threatening to drop her, while at the same time Mac must overcome her challenging past in order to help her 12-year-old son Ryan (Benjamin Mackey) who needs a life-saving emergency kidney transplant. Certain circumstances and medical backgrounds leave Mac with one choice … track down her estranged father who abandoned her and her now deceased mother when Mac was only nine years old. And while this is the story of Mac and Ryan, it’s that man who shocks us in so many ways.

Yale Parker (played by veteran character actor Kevin Dunn) is the owner and in-house stand-up comedian for a low-rent strip club. His gambling debts are out-of-control and he also carries a secret that could not only devastate Mac, but also help Ryan. Will Yale finally perform an act that is neither self-serving nor filled with corny jokes (told while wearing outlandish clothes and a horrible wig)? The core of this story is watching Mac and Yale battle the past while negotiating a relationship that was shattered when she was so young. Many awkward conversations occur during a makeshift road trip that generates even more awkward conversations.

It’s absolutely fair to label Yale Parker a deadbeat dad yet, as most parents try to convince their kids, most everyone has some good buried inside. Yale’s big secret will not be revealed here, but it’s safe to say the film’s best scenes feature Mr. Dunn and Ms. McGee coming to grips with each other and themselves. Family dynamics are a popular topic for films, and writer Billet is to be commended for turning his own family mess into a story that will both entertain and strike an emotional chord.

YALE has its WORLD PREMIERE at Dances With Films on June 18, 2026

WATCH THE TRAILER

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Posted by David Ferguson

STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN (2020)

February 20, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. Billy Crystal hasn’t starred in a film since 2012’s PARENTAL GUIDANCE. Sure, he’s had some appearances in movies and TV shows, and done some voice acting, but that’s a lot of years between top-lining gigs. It seems writer Peter Hoare (KILLING HASSELHOFF, 2017) and director Matt Ratner (his first feature film) know exactly what to do with the now 71 year old legendary comedian, and it makes perfect sense that Mr. Crystal chose this role to end his drought.

Scott Rollins (Ben Schwartz, “Parks and Recreation”) is a 34 year old struggling/failed stand-up comic who moves back home after a four year stint trying to make it in the Los Angeles comedy scene. His eternally-chirpy mother (Debra Monk) is thrilled to have him back in his room, but his business owner dad (Kevin Dunn) stays put in his recliner, his 30 year old sister (Grace Gummer, daughter of Meryl Streep) immediately starts jabbing him for failing (after all, she manages a pretzel stand at the mall), his friends have moved on with their own wives and kids, and Becky (Eloise Mumford), the dream girl ex that he deserted to pursue his dreams, has married another guy. Welcome to adulting Scott.

One of the most awkward ‘meet-cutes’ occurs when an inebriated Marty bumps into Scott on his way to urinate in the local pub’s restroom sink. Soon Marty, who doubles as town-drunk and a dermatologist, is treating Scott’s stress rash. The two strike up an odd friendship and the elder Marty is heard doling out life philosophy like, “Regret is the only thing that’s real”, and “Nobody has their life figured out.” Weed is also involved as the two similarly lost souls, separated by generations, find common ground in coming to grips with their individual missteps.

We glimpse more similarities as the backstories are unfolded for Marty and Scott. The elder man’s two wives and two kids have resulted in loneliness and pain for the once successful (we can tell by his house) medical professional. His son Adam (Nate Corddry) angrily blames Marty for his mother’s death, and daughter Taylor (Caitlin McGee), is mostly too busy for her old man. The younger Scott, previously broke off a solid relationship with Becky to pursue his dream. There was no conversation, just the actions of a younger man’s whims. It’s only now that he’s questioning what matters in life.

Many clichés are leaned on and some quite familiar ground (do new friends really take the podium at funerals?) is covered, but it’s enjoyable to watch an old pro like Mr. Crystal do what he does best. And the life lessons may be simple and obvious, but they are also ones that so many fail to learn until late in life. Some of the humor is offered with a twist. For instance 1986 is featured via HOWARD THE DUCK and Clemens versus Strawberry. Mostly the comedy plays the role of masking loneliness, and it seems when combined with friendship, that’s a more effective salve than alcohol. Writer Hoare (whose face is on the giant photo at the wake), leaves us with: “Lightning never strikes twice, but it can strike again.” Just like Billy Crystal.

watch the trailer:

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Posted by David Ferguson