This Town

           

         Fans of Christopher Guest's films will certainly enjoy this quirky and oddly charming, New Zealand comedy from writer, director, and star, David White. It is a credit to Mr. White that he can pull off a comedy based on a murder of a family in a small town.

         It's been a few years since Sean (played by Mr. White) has been found innocent of murdering his family but the residents of the small town of Thiston remain certain of his guilt. Sean tries to go about his life, even getting a girlfriend he meets through a dating app but ex-police officer, Pam (played by the wonderful Robyn Malcolm) doggedly pursues every lead, however absurd they may be, to finally get the evidence she needs to prove he is guilty

          

         Sean's girlfriend Casey is played by Alice May Connolly and the two have a wonderful chemistry as two oddballs made for each other. The other standout co-star is Rima Te Wiata, who plays the local tabloid reporter Janice, looking to cash in on the story..

         While the thought of the murder itself is horrendous, the film downplays the crime instead focusing on the extremely weird and funny thoughts and actions of the lead characters and all the townspeople. All the characters often speak directly to the camera with their thoughts and opinions about Sean and the crime and Mr. White strikes a delicate balance between the absurdist humor and "true crime" aspect that ignites the plot.