Adam (Daniel Desmarais) is a small-time wedding videographer, and lately he’s struggled to get the job done. However, when his college crush--Valerie (Jackie McCarthy)--invites him to a party, and provides him the opportunity to truly shine, he sees an opportunity to win her love and right the ship that is his life. Life on Pause tells the story of Adam making a truly bitchin’ video for the love of his life and the unique journey on which it takes him.
The thing that I love most about short films is the fact that they develop quickly and almost immediately get to the point. That typically means a faster-paced film, sans dull moments. However, I’m not in love with the development of Adam’s story in Life on Pause. There were often times when I felt that I was getting nowhere and that Adam’s journey felt as if it were at a standstill. I needed more from this story, and much quicker than it actually played out. This alone makes parts of Life on Pause feel a bit cumbersome and the audience feel angst.
While the development of Adam and his charades hinder the film to a degree, there is much to appreciate about what writer-director Steve Lifshey, and his cast and crew, does here. Not only is Lifshey in charge of writing and directing this short film, he edits Life on Pause as well. In short--the editing is done flawlessly. As the film plays out the layered story comes together seamlessly, and, regardless of the pacing of the film, Life on Pause plays out smoothly. I may not be in love with the story, and that’s a strike against Lifshey, but his ability to edit and bring his vision together is impeccable and is something of which to be proud.
The most impressive aspect of Life on Pause, however, is the star, Desmarais. He’s amazing, making Adam entertaining, genuine, charismatic, and relatable. Sure, there are times when he feels a bit odd, but those oddities add to the relatability of the character. Viewers are compelled to appreciate all that Desmarais does throughout the course of the short film, as he brings to life a character that is full of love, fear, and honest human qualities that can sometimes be lost in film. Desmarais feels real--not like an actor filling some fictional shoes--but rather a human being who, like everyone watching, has aspirations for himself. I’m willing to say that it’s damn near impossible not to like Adam, regardless of the winding road on which he travels, and that is thanks to Desmarais and his pure talent.
Yes, Life on Pause moves a bit too slow for my liking, and it makes it difficult for me to appreciate aspects of the film; but Desmarais is a star, and he often becomes the reason that viewers appreciate the film. Desmarais, along with Lifshey’s editing prowess, brings Life on Pause to...well, life. I believe that Lifshey has a lot to offer in the realm of cinema, but he needs to find ways to better drive his future films forward and develop the meat of those films in a more appealing fashion. I like what I saw, again, particularly from Desmarais; and I truly look forward to what he and Lifshey have to offer in the future.
Written & Directed by Steve Lifshey.
Starring Daniel Desmarais, Jackie McCarthy, Bj Gruber, William Scott Brown, Eva Visco, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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