VIFF 2021 REVIEW | "The Beta Test" Fails to Pick A Lane
5/12 ForReel Score | 2/5 Stars
When done correctly, comedy can complement a psychological thriller. This diametrically opposed sweet-and-sour combination of cinematic tones, however, is a tricky balance to strike. Pairing plot twists and an intriguing mystery with the antics of writer, director, and actor, Jim Cummings, The Beta Test takes a swing at it, checking many of the boxes for a compelling and brain teasing thriller, and Cummings reprises the typically zany persona we’ve seen from his previous productions. But there are pitfalls in the experience that holds The Beta Test back from fusing these two apporaches to entertainment in a cohesive manner.
Like in Thunder Road and The Wolf of Snow Hollow, Cummings stars himself as the main character in The Beta Test: Jordan, a high-strung Hollywood agent engaged to his partner, Caroline (Virginia Newcomb, The Death of Dick Long). However, for Jordan, “engaged” isn’t synonymous with “committed” when he receives a mysterious purple letter containing an invite to a private sexual encounter. The offer is enticing, and Jordan accepts. But when evidence of the casual encounter begins to surface, Jordan frantically tries to track down the person responsible for arranging the meeting by any means necessary as his web of lies begins to succumb to an untenable force: digital data.
In a way, it’s experimental territory for Cummings, who to this point has been accustomed to playing police officers in his films. And this film comes with the ambition that is apparent in each film from the writer/director. The Beta Test is, apparently, the product of blending Thunder Road’s awkward comedy with The Wolf of Snowy Hallow’s gripping horror. But the question that arises in The Beta Test is this: do these two brands of Jim Cummings filmmaking compliment each other?
Because on paper, the concepts for Cummings’ storytelling seem solid. Featuring deeply flawed lead characters under perpetually mounting pressure, Cummings’ effort to flesh out his main characters’ vices is admirable, and The Beta Test too pursues this objective as Jordan pursues this blackmailing threat. Digital data, after all, possesses a wealth of potential for anxiety driven narratives, and Cummings’ script is onto something with the subject matter. The problem, unfortunately, is that the film’s biggest detractor is Cummings himself.
Instead of his quirky character complimenting the dramatic and tense nature of The Beta Test, that type-casted and caricature-like persona seems out of place in this film. Especially with a familiar emotional breakdown finale for Jordan that feels less than authentic - seemingly contrived even, just so the sequence can be featured presumably because of how well it played in Thunder Road. And amidst plot holes from a silly character making silly decisions, the punchline that The Beta Test builds up to is significantly diminished - though comes with more revelation after the movie as the hints and clues leading up to the reveal become more evident in hindsight conversation.
This feature is co-directed by PJ McCabe, who also plays a supporting role in this, his directorial debut. But the signs and traces of Cummings’ influence on this film are unmistakable, and ultimately, the question of whether he can compatibly incorporate comedy in a thriller comes down to questioning whether he is the right actor to lead his thriller-oriented films. He has coined a distinct style of acting that’s best when he is animated and hammy, and unremarkably ordinary otherwise; a trite two-speed dynamic that underserves The Beta Test.
I’d love to see a Jim Cummings production that removes himself from the headlining cast, where he can focus on writing and/or directing a compelling narrative without relying on his eccentric nature to carry - or in my opinion for The Beta Test, upstage - the premise. Or, perhaps, resolve to fully embrace self-awareness in the comedy/drama space. As for the final conclusion on this film, I just consider it another beta test for Jim Cummings filmmaking.
Acting and Casting - 1 | Visual Effects and Editing - 1 | Story and Message - 1 | Entertainment Value - 1 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer's Preference - 0 | What does this mean?