''The Pretty One'' is a 2013

comedy drama film Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

directed and written by Jenée LaMarque. The film stars

Zoe Kazan Zoe Swicord Kazan (; born September 9, 1983) is an American actress, playwright, and screenwriter. She made her acting debut in the film ''Swordswallowers and Thin Men'' (2003) and later appeared in films such as '' The Savages'' (2007), ''Revol ...

Jake Johnson Mark Jake Johnson Weinberger (born May 28, 1978) is an American actor, comedian, film producer and screenwriter best known for his role as Nick Miller in the Fox sitcom ''New Girl'' (2011–2018), for which he was nominated for the Critics' C ...

Ron Livingston Ronald Joseph Livingston (born June 5, 1967) is an American actor. He is known for playing Peter Gibbons in the 1999 film ''Office Space'' and Captain Lewis Nixon III in the 2001 miniseries '' Band of Brothers.'' Livingston's other roles include ...

Sterling Beaumon Sterling Martin Beaumon (born June 2, 1995) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Max Doyle in the 2008 film, ''Mostly Ghostly'', and as young Benjamin Linus in the ABC television series, ''Lost''. Beaumon has had guest roles in ''L ...

and

John Carroll Lynch John Carroll Lynch (born August 1, 1963) is an American character actor and film director. He first gained notice for his role as Norm Gunderson in '' Fargo'' (1996). He is also known for his television work on the ABC sitcom ''The Drew Carey Show ...

Plot

Laurel and Audrey (

) are identical twins. Although they look the same on the outside, their personalities are very different, with Audrey being popular, sophisticated and successful while Laurel is shy, childlike, awkward and still living at home with their widowed father (

) and his new fiancée, and helping him with his work of reproducing famous paintings. At their birthday party, Audrey persuades Laurel to come and live with her. In preparation for the move, Laurel gets a new haircut that makes her look like her sister. Returning from the hair salon, they get in a severe car crash together, and when Laurel wakes up in the hospital, she is informed that her sister has died. Suffering from

post-traumatic amnesia Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) is a state of confusion that occurs immediately following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in which the injured person is disoriented and unable to remember events that occur after the injury. The person may be unable ...

, Laurel doesn't remember who she is at first. Due to her new haircut and the fact that the deceased's body was burned beyond recognition following the accident, everybody assumes she's actually Audrey. The morning of Laurel's funeral, she remembers her actual identity but decides to keep everyone thinking that Laurel was the one who died in the crash, especially when she sees that nobody at her funeral has anything to say about her. Laurel flies back to the city where Audrey used to live and work as a real estate agent. There, she meets her late sister's tenant, Basel (

), who is confused about Audrey's sudden change of personality, because Audrey was never nice to him before. While posing as her sister, she learns that Audrey had a married boyfriend, Charles (

), but broke up with him before the accident. Laurel continues to spend more time with Basel and Audrey's best friend and coworker Claudia (

Frankie Shaw Rachel Frances Shaw (born 1981) is an American actress and filmmaker. She is best known for playing Bridgette Bird on the Showtime series ''SMILF,'' based on the 2015 short film of the same title, which she wrote, directed and starred in. Shaw ...

), who grows suspicious due to Audrey's change of behavior and sudden lack of skills at work. Eventually, Laurel and Basel fall in love and begin a relationship. When she finally feels that she is adapting to her new life, Laurel accidentally introduces Charles as her ex-boyfriend to her boss Edith (

Sabrina Lloyd Sabrina Anne Lloyd (born November 20, 1970) is an American retired film and television actress. She is known for portraying Wade Welles in the science fiction series ''Sliders'', Natalie Hurley in the ABC sitcom '' Sports Night'' and Kelly in ''Fa ...

), not knowing that Charles is actually Edith's husband, and getting immediately fired as a result. Shortly after this, Basel proposes to Laurel saying that he has loved her since they first met, which to Laurel means he loves her as Audrey, not as herself. Unable to continue deceiving everyone, Laurel reveals the truth to Basel, but he is devastated by her deception and breaks up with her. Laurel returns home to her father and confesses her impersonation to him. He is shocked, while at the same time being relieved that the daughter he felt closer to is still alive. There is another funeral, this time for Audrey. After talking to Claudia, and receiving encouragement from her father after showing him her original paintings, Laurel eventually comes to terms with her own insecurities about being the less worthy sister. She returns to the city as herself and looks for Basel, who's still upset but also still in love with her. In the end he forgives her; they share a kiss and start making plans for the future.

Cast

as Laurel/Audrey ** Katherine Macanufo as Laurel/Audrey double *

as Basel *

as Frank, Laurel and Audrey's father *

as Claudia *

Shae D'lyn Shae D'lyn (born Shae D'lyn Sherertz; November 24, 1963, Abilene, Texas) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as series regular Jane Deaux/Cavanaugh on the sitcom ''Dharma & Greg'', as Cousin Vicki in the feature film ''Vega ...

as May, Frank's fiancée *

as Charles *

as Hunter * Robin Reiser as Hunter's Mom *

Luka Jones Luka Yovetich (born August 18, 1975), known professionally as Luka Jones, is an American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ...

as Patrick *

as Edith *

Danny Pudi Daniel Mark Pudi (born March 10, 1979) is an American actor. His roles include Abed Nadir on the NBC sitcom ''Community'' (2009–2015), for which he received three nominations for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in ...

as Dr. Rao

Production

On March 30, 2012,

and

joined the cast of ''The Pretty One'' to play lead roles, Jenée LaMarque wrote the script and she made her directorial debut of her own 2011 black listed script. The filming started on June 1, 2012.

also joined the cast in the middle of June as Hunter, a womanizer who is sleeping with his former babysitter. Later on 22 June,

joined the cast to play Charles, Robin Schorr and Steven Berger produced the film.

Filming

The filming began in early June 2012 in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pretty One, The 2013 films 2013 comedy-drama films American comedy-drama films Films about twin sisters Films shot in Los Angeles 2013 directorial debut films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films