“Expect Delays will make you laugh, cry, and think, without ever feeling taken advantage of”
by Bethany Rose
Holiday films tend to be polarizing. Many often focus on the magical side of the holidays, emphasizing Santa’s lesser-known talent as matchmaker or suggesting that all anyone needs to defeat a villain is a bit of gumption, a sprig of mistletoe, and lots of Christmas cheer. Then there are those holiday films that are so desperate to separate themselves from their übercheerful counterparts that they serve only as reminders that life generally sucks, even in December. Expect Delays eschews the extremes of typical holiday fare and the result is a film with real emotion and depth without feeling gimmicky or depressing.
The film centers itself around a late-December family gathering. An early introduction to the major characters shows how diverse the family is, and it becomes very clear that each family member will bring a unique personality to the Christmas table. The setting is intimate, focusing mostly on the home of Barb (Andra Harkins) and Donald (Wayne Ault). What works so well about Expect Delays is that though each character stands out, they all manage to do so in an organic way. Audiences are sure to find a character they can relate to. Family flaws are not used to disparage one another, even if the characters don’t always see eye to eye.
At the center of the family are oldest brother Alec, only sister Leigh Ann, and matriarch Barb. Their dynamic is so authentic you will think you are watching a real family celebrate the holidays. Barb perfectly embodies the mother that loves her family and wants the best for them, even if her intent sometimes comes off as judgmental, but never in a way that makes the audience feel ill feelings toward her. Audiences are more likely to nod their heads and think, “Yep, that’s a mom being a mom,” than to think she is overbearing to a fault.
- Expect Delays
- Directed by
Dan Steadman - Cast
Ted Trent, Wendy Shapero, Cooper Shaw - Release Date
5 November 2015 - Bethany’s Grade: A-
*****
One of the standout performances of the film comes from Wendy Shapero as Leigh Ann. She will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. Here, too, is a character that should have felt very stereotypical, yet never does. The same goes for her brother, Alec (Ted Trent). At first glance, it seems as though Alec will be the know-it-all sibling who is far too good to spend too much time with his small-town family, when he could be rubbing elbows with his more sophisticated metropolitan friends. But the complexities of his character are shown early on, and his development throughout the film is one of the key ways Expect Delays breaks the mold and proves that this is not a holiday film, but rather a fascinating family dramedy that just happens to take place over the holidays.
That isn’t to say that fans of holiday films should skip Expect Delays. There is still a cozy atmosphere created, partly due to the welcoming and familiar setting of the family home. The crackling fires, the Christmas Eve shopping, and the sound of carolers in the streets are all welcome and familiar elements of holiday films that find their way into this movie. And even though happiness and resolutions aren’t found through typical holiday magic tropes, Expect Delays embraces the good times without ignoring that life is not a bowl of cherries.
While Alec, Leigh Ann, and Barb are major characters in the film, no character is too minor. The actors each got a chance to shine. Notable supporting characters include Moose (Antonio St. James), Jiffy (C. Stephen Foster), and Uncle Heath (Bill Conklin). Uncle Heath is perhaps the truest testament to how unique this film is. When he first appears on screen, it seems like he will be a version of Christmas Vacation‘s Cousin Eddie. And in a lesser film, that’s exactly what he would be. But while Uncle Heath provides comic relief, he is no clown.
Expect Delays will make you laugh, cry, and think, without ever feeling taken advantage of. Rather than toy with emotions, it celebrates life in a true way. There’s never a ploy to make change feel instant and easy, even though characters are able to transform throughout the film. Expect Delays is a true rare gift in a holiday film, in that it never insults the audience. This is a must-see film that audiences are sure to love from beginning to end.
CAST
ALEC ……………………….. TED TRENT
LEIGH ANN …………………… WENDY SHAPERO
ARLENE ……………………… COOPER SHAW
DONALD ……………………… WAYNE AULT
BARB ……………………….. ANDRA HARKINS
UNCLE HEATH …………………. BILL CONKLIN
MOOSE ………………………. ANTONIO ST. JAMES
CHAD ……………………….. NICHOLAS GIANINI
TRAVIS ……………………… JOHN LAUNIUS
AMBER ………………………. JESSICA AMBUEHL
AVA ………………………… AVA DIGIOVANNI
BEN ………………………… KEITH NUSSBAUM
JIFFY ………………………. C. STEPHEN FOSTER
ALICE ………………………. MARGERY HANDY
JULIE ………………………. KATE BARTON
DISGRUNTLED TRAVELER …………. MIKE COWAN
HOSTILE WOMAN ……………….. AERIAL HAWKEY
RESTLESS KID ………………… SADIE DIGIOVANNI
SINGLE MOTHER ……………….. KATHY SAX
ADAM ……………………….. LOGAN SHORT
MRS. CLAUS ………………….. SUSAN BLAKEY
SANTA CLAUS …………………. RON KLEIN
MITZY ………………………. HEATHER NIKOLE
SPARKLE …………………….. RACHEL FARRELL
RADIO ………………………. JOHN & KANE SHOW
MOSHPIT …………………….. ANDREW PEARSON
BEEPER ……………………… BRIAN ROBBINS
ATTENDANT 1 …………………. SHAWN CHEVALIER
ATTENDANT 2 …………………. JENNIFER BLOMSTROM
