Wendy’s (Katie Weigl) husband, Will has just passed away, leaving her with a house and no way to pay for it. One night his buddies come together for the Will Reading, to find some missing money, and console the widow. Along the way these friends will tell stories, gloat about their current lives, and argue with one another for absurd reasons. The friends are odd, but they are here...and that’s enough?
The title, Will Reading, is intriguing, and a great way to introduce potential viewers to the film. Before viewing I speculated about what the title could possibly mean (as I tried to avoid the synopsis). I thought, “is Will reading something?” Is this an intentionally, grammatically incorrect version of “Will’s Reading?,” and if so, “...reading what?” As I grappled with the title of the film I became more engrossed in what the film was and what it had to offer. Whether intentional or not, the title works wonders for the film, and Will Reading possesses a level of mystery as a result of its name. What a wonderful way to start the film, as viewers are pulled in before the film even begins.
That mystery lasts throughout the course of the film, but I’m not sure that the level of intensity that writer-director Jamie Insalaco had hoped for is present in the film. Sure, the whereabouts of the money, and a sort of “whodunit” storyline presents audiences with mystery to some degree, but the story is often sidetracked. Through the many moments of comedy viewers lose track of the mystery, and, at times, they even forget that it exists. The comedy isn’t used as a red herring to throw viewers off the scent, and it acts more as a distraction, stealing from the allure of the mystery and hindering Will Reading’s ability to reach viewers. Don’t get me wrong, the comedy is wonderful. Dan Conrad (Dave), Greg Vorob (Steve), Marc Seidenstein (Tom), Insalaco (Wayne), and Weigl are funny, and their jokes often land appropriately, but those jokes don’t mesh well with the supposed intensity of Wendy’s current situation.
I can understand that the comedy could be viewed as ironic, but it doesn’t play out that way. Rather the comedy seems to suffocate the mystery and drown out some of the hope that Insalaco had for his film. Will Reading, on occasion, fails to reach viewers as a result of the comedy when there was so much potential lying there in the background.
Will Reading is ultimately unsuccessful in its attempt to deliver an appropriate level of mystery, or to balance the comedy with said mystery, but the film manages to possess somewhat of a hidden meaning. It may be a tad cynical, but I’ve always believed that, in general, people can’t be trusted. That idea rings true throughout the course of Will Reading as things twist and contort and viewers are presented a truly ironic story. As the film changes and the metaphor for life rises ever so carefully to the surface, viewers are reminded of something else as well, you have to watch your own back. There are some dark lessons to be learned throughout the course of Will Reading, but those messages are what make the film so interesting.
The comedy and mystery often step on one another’s feet throughout the course of Will Reading never allowing either one to truly flourish. On their own I believe that either one of those aspects could have driven the film forward, but the rocky juxtaposition of both hinder the film. What I love about Will Reading are the important messages regarding trust and protecting yourself from others. The film certainly struggles at points, but I believe that Will Reading warrants a view. Insalaco had a wonderful vision, but the film ultimately remains overcrowded, even in the moments of brilliance.
Written & Directed by Jamie Insalaco.
Starring Katie Weigl, Dan Conrad, Greg Vorob, Marc Seidenstein, Kelli Sayres, Cheryl Curry, Bethany Curry, Emily Curry, Carol Insalaco, & Jamie Insalaco
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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