''Fling'', internationally titled ''Lie to Me'', is an independent
comedy film
A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...
about a couple navigating the hazards of an
open relationship
An open relationship is an intimate relationship that is sexually non-monogamous. The term is distinct from polyamory, in that it generally indicates a relationship where there is a primary emotional and intimate relationship between two partners ...
. It is the directorial debut of director
John Stewart Muller
John Stewart Muller is an American motion picture and television commercial director, screenwriter, and producer.
Biography
Muller was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, where he attended the Pembroke Hill Scho ...
and stars
Brandon Routh
Brandon James Routh (; born October 9, 1979) is an American actor. He portrayed Superman in the 2006 film ''Superman Returns'', which garnered him international fame. In 2011, he played the titular character of the film '' Dylan Dog: Dead of Ni ...
,
Steve Sandvoss
Stephen "Max" James Sandvoss (born Stephen James Sandvoss) is an American businessman, farmer, and former actor.
Early life and education
Sandvoss was born in New York City, New York. His mother, Joyce, is American-born, and his father, Rolf Herm ...
,
Courtney Ford
Courtney Braden Ford is an American actress. She is best known for her roles on television, such as playing Christine Hill on ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter'' (2009), Portia Bellefleur on ''True Blood'' (2011), Lily on ''Parenthood (2010 TV serie ...
,
Nick Wechsler Nick Wechsler may also refer to:
* Nick Wechsler (actor) (born 1978), American actor
* Nick Wechsler (film producer) (born 1949), American film producer
{{Hndis, Wechsler, Nick ...
,
Shoshana Bush
Shoshana Gloriella Bush (born September 18, 1988) is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her role in the film ''Dance Flick'' (2009).
Her aunt was actress Bonnie Franklin.
Career
Bush is a native of Tiburon, California. She has ...
and
Ellen Hollman
Ellen Hollman (born April 1, 1983) is an American actress.
Biography
Hollman was born in Detroit, Michigan, the oldest of four siblings. She eventually moved to Troy, Michigan, and was an all-star track runner, holding the Michigan state recor ...
. It is the first feature from Santa Monica-based
Steele Films and was written and produced by
John Stewart Muller
John Stewart Muller is an American motion picture and television commercial director, screenwriter, and producer.
Biography
Muller was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, where he attended the Pembroke Hill Scho ...
and his partner Laura Boersma.
''Fling'' features
Brandon Routh
Brandon James Routh (; born October 9, 1979) is an American actor. He portrayed Superman in the 2006 film ''Superman Returns'', which garnered him international fame. In 2011, he played the titular character of the film '' Dylan Dog: Dead of Ni ...
in his first lead role since ''
Superman Returns
''Superman Returns'' is a 2006 American superhero film directed by Bryan Singer and written by Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris (screenwriter), Dan Harris from a story by Singer, Dougherty and Harris based on the DC Comics character Superman. I ...
''. It premiered to a sold-out crowd at the 2008
Newport Beach Film Festival
The Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) is an annual film festival in Newport Beach, California, typically held in late April. In 2022, it was announced that the festival have permanently changed its date to be held in October, as the festival beg ...
on April 26 in the Lido Theater on the
Balboa Peninsula
The Balboa Peninsula (also referred to as "Balboa" or "the Peninsula") is a neighborhood of the city of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. It is named after Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the first European to sight the Pacific ...
. The film received an award for "Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking" from the festival's jury.
''Fling'' had its official Los Angeles premiere on October 18 at the Fine Arts Theatre on Wilshire Blvd. as part of the 2008
LA Femme Film Festival
LA Femme International Film Festival focuses on platforming women filmmakers, "by women, for everyone". The Festival was created in 2005, to answer the need to enhance women behind the camera as directors, producers, and writers. It was the first ...
.
Shortly thereafter, it had its sold-out East Coast premiere on November 7 at the 2008 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. On November 14, ''Fling'' had its Midwest premiere at the Screenland Theatre in the Crossroads District of
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...
.
''Fling'' had its international premiere at the 2008
Bahamas International Film Festival
The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is a non-profit film festival held in the Bahamas. Open to both locals and international visitors, the festival was founded by Leslie Vanderpool in 2004.
BIFF also hosts a youth film workshop that a ...
on December 5, 2008. North American distribution is being handled by Peace Arch Entertainment and the DVD was released on March 24, 2009.
Plot
By all appearances, Samantha (
Courtney Ford
Courtney Braden Ford is an American actress. She is best known for her roles on television, such as playing Christine Hill on ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter'' (2009), Portia Bellefleur on ''True Blood'' (2011), Lily on ''Parenthood (2010 TV serie ...
) and Mason (
Steve Sandvoss
Stephen "Max" James Sandvoss (born Stephen James Sandvoss) is an American businessman, farmer, and former actor.
Early life and education
Sandvoss was born in New York City, New York. His mother, Joyce, is American-born, and his father, Rolf Herm ...
) are the perfect couple: young, attractive, successful, and madly in love. At her sister Allison's (
Ellen Hollman
Ellen Hollman (born April 1, 1983) is an American actress.
Biography
Hollman was born in Detroit, Michigan, the oldest of four siblings. She eventually moved to Troy, Michigan, and was an all-star track runner, holding the Michigan state recor ...
) idyllic spring wedding, Samantha, a twenty-something fashion designer, finds herself drawn back into the arms of her ex-boyfriend, James (
Brandon Routh
Brandon James Routh (; born October 9, 1979) is an American actor. He portrayed Superman in the 2006 film ''Superman Returns'', which garnered him international fame. In 2011, he played the titular character of the film '' Dylan Dog: Dead of Ni ...
), a surprise wedding guest. Meanwhile, Mason, a published novelist just shy of thirty, spends a flirtatious evening culminating in a
hot tub encounter with his best friend Luke's (
Nick Wechsler Nick Wechsler may also refer to:
* Nick Wechsler (actor) (born 1978), American actor
* Nick Wechsler (film producer) (born 1949), American film producer
{{Hndis, Wechsler, Nick ...
) 18-year-old sister, Olivia (
Shoshana Bush
Shoshana Gloriella Bush (born September 18, 1988) is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her role in the film ''Dance Flick'' (2009).
Her aunt was actress Bonnie Franklin.
Career
Bush is a native of Tiburon, California. She has ...
). Sneaking out of James's room, Sam is startled by Mason and confesses her affair. But Mason's reaction is not what is expected.
Cast
*
Brandon Routh
Brandon James Routh (; born October 9, 1979) is an American actor. He portrayed Superman in the 2006 film ''Superman Returns'', which garnered him international fame. In 2011, he played the titular character of the film '' Dylan Dog: Dead of Ni ...
- James
*
Steve Sandvoss
Stephen "Max" James Sandvoss (born Stephen James Sandvoss) is an American businessman, farmer, and former actor.
Early life and education
Sandvoss was born in New York City, New York. His mother, Joyce, is American-born, and his father, Rolf Herm ...
- Mason
*
Courtney Ford
Courtney Braden Ford is an American actress. She is best known for her roles on television, such as playing Christine Hill on ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter'' (2009), Portia Bellefleur on ''True Blood'' (2011), Lily on ''Parenthood (2010 TV serie ...
- Sam
*
Shoshana Bush
Shoshana Gloriella Bush (born September 18, 1988) is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her role in the film ''Dance Flick'' (2009).
Her aunt was actress Bonnie Franklin.
Career
Bush is a native of Tiburon, California. She has ...
- Olivia
*
Nick Wechsler Nick Wechsler may also refer to:
* Nick Wechsler (actor) (born 1978), American actor
* Nick Wechsler (film producer) (born 1949), American film producer
{{Hndis, Wechsler, Nick ...
- Luke
*
Ellen Hollman
Ellen Hollman (born April 1, 1983) is an American actress.
Biography
Hollman was born in Detroit, Michigan, the oldest of four siblings. She eventually moved to Troy, Michigan, and was an all-star track runner, holding the Michigan state recor ...
- Alison
*
Deborah Rush
Deborah Rush (born April 10, 1954) is an American actress. She has worked in television, film and on Broadway. In 1984, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for Michael Frayn's comedy ''Noises ...
- Katherine
*
Mousa Kraish
Mousa Hussein Kraish ( ; ar, موسى Øسين قريش; born November 21) is an American actor and director, who has appeared in several Hollywood films including Steven Spielberg's 2005 film ''Munich (2005 film), Munich''. He is best known for ...
- Patrick
*
Diana Newton
Diana most commonly refers to:
* Diana (name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
* Diana (mythology), ancient Roman goddess of the hunt and wild animals; later associated with the Moon
* Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997 ...
- Amy
*
Mary Kay Riley - Brooke
*
Erin McGrane
Erin is a Hiberno-English word for Ireland originating from the Irish word ''"Éirinn"''. "Éirinn" is the dative case of the Irish word for Ireland, "Éire", genitive "Éireann", the dative being used in prepositional phrases such as ''"go hà ...
- Becky
*
Ginny Weirick - Jessica
*
Makinna Ridgway - Jenni
* Brandon Lee White - Josh
*
Lahcen Anajjar - Tom
*
Tamar Kaprelian
Tamar Mardirossian ( hy, Ô¹Õ¡Õ´Õ¡Ö€ Õ„Õ¡Ö€Õ¿Õ«Ö€Õ¸Õ½Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶; born October 28, 1986), known professionally as Tamar Kaprelian, is an Armenian-American singer, songwriter, and philanthropist. Kaprelian began her career in 2008, after winning a cove ...
- Kim
*
Brenner Barclay - Pete
Frank Munroe - Party Guy
The supporting cast includes
Mousa Kraish
Mousa Hussein Kraish ( ; ar, موسى Øسين قريش; born November 21) is an American actor and director, who has appeared in several Hollywood films including Steven Spielberg's 2005 film ''Munich (2005 film), Munich''. He is best known for ...
,
Deborah Rush
Deborah Rush (born April 10, 1954) is an American actress. She has worked in television, film and on Broadway. In 1984, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for Michael Frayn's comedy ''Noises ...
,
Tamar Kaprelian
Tamar Mardirossian ( hy, Ô¹Õ¡Õ´Õ¡Ö€ Õ„Õ¡Ö€Õ¿Õ«Ö€Õ¸Õ½Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶; born October 28, 1986), known professionally as Tamar Kaprelian, is an Armenian-American singer, songwriter, and philanthropist. Kaprelian began her career in 2008, after winning a cove ...
,
Diana Newton
Diana most commonly refers to:
* Diana (name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
* Diana (mythology), ancient Roman goddess of the hunt and wild animals; later associated with the Moon
* Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997 ...
, and
Joshua C. Hunt.
Production
''Fling'' features original music by
Nick Urata, the frontman for the band
DeVotchKa, whose work on the ''
Little Miss Sunshine
''Little Miss Sunshine'' is a 2006 American tragicomedy road film and the feature film directorial debut of the husband–wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. The screenplay was written by first-time writer Michael Arndt. The film sta ...
'' soundtrack resulted in a
Grammy
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...
nomination.
The film was shot in and around
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...
.
Reception
Robert W. Butler of
The Kansas City Star
''The Kansas City Star'' is a newspaper based in Kansas City, Missouri. Published since 1880, the paper is the recipient of eight Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Star'' is most notable for its influence on the career of President Harry S. Truman and as ...
gave ''Fling'' 3/4, calling it "an impressive first feature."
References
External links
*
* {{IMDb title, 1003010, Fling
''Fling''at the 2008
Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
Fort Lauderdale () is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and largest city in Broward County, Florida, Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the 2020 Unit ...
''Fling''at the 2008
Newport Beach Film Festival
The Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) is an annual film festival in Newport Beach, California, typically held in late April. In 2022, it was announced that the festival have permanently changed its date to be held in October, as the festival beg ...
''Fling''at the 2008
Bahamas International Film Festival
The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is a non-profit film festival held in the Bahamas. Open to both locals and international visitors, the festival was founded by Leslie Vanderpool in 2004.
BIFF also hosts a youth film workshop that a ...
2008 films
American independent films
2008 directorial debut films
2000s English-language films
2000s American films