Lemon (2017 film)


Lemon is an American comedy-drama film directed by Janicza Bravo, from a screenplay by Bravo and Brett Gelman. It stars Gelman, Judy Greer, Michael Cera, Shiri Appleby, Fred Melamed, Rhea Perlman, David Paymer, Gillian Jacobs, Jon Daly, Martin Starr, Megan Mullally, Jeff Garlin, Elizabeth De Razzo, Marla Gibbs and
Nia Long.
The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2017. It was released in a limited release and through video on demand on August 18, 2017, by Magnolia Pictures.

Plot

Isaac watches his life unravel after his girlfriend breaks up with him.

Cast

In August 2016, it was announced Brett Gelman, Judy Greer, Michael Cera, Nia Long, Fred Melamed, Shiri Appleby, Rhea Perlman, David Paymer, Gillian Jacobs, Megan Mullally, Martin Starr, Jeff Garlin and Marla Gibbs would star in the film, with Janicza Bravo directing and executive producing the film from a screenplay she wrote alongside Gelman. Paul Bernon, Sam Slater, David Bernon, Han West, Houston King, Christine Vachon, and David Hinojosa would serve as producers and executive producers, respectively, under their Burn Later Productions and Killer Films banners.

Filming

concluded in August 2016.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2017.
The film also opened the 46th International Film Festival Rotterdam January 25, 2017. It also screened at South by Southwest on March 10, 2017. Shortly after, Magnolia Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film. It was released on August 18, 2017.

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 56% based on 45 reviews, with an average rating of 4.99 out of 10. On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 59 out of 100 based on reviews from 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film, and wrote: "Lemon represents a feature debut of unusual assurance and control with a style all its own."
Variety's Owen Gleiberman gave it a mixed review: "Lemon is a comedy of miserablism that keeps poking you in the ribs — and, quite often, fails to hit the rib it’s aiming for. Yet it’s a watchable curio, because beneath it all the director, the Panamanian-born Janicza Bravo, has a more conventional sensibility than she lets on."