Although it might not seem a logical conclusion, tripods and screenplays have quite a bit in common. After all, if both are built strongly enough, they more than ably support means of communicating with others (through images as well as words that are then translated into moving pictures). On the other hand, if they're not sturdy, the result can be shaking and disappointing images.
Such is the case on both counts with "Undiscovered," a banal drama about young people trying to make it big in the L.A. entertainment biz. While the film is obviously one of those medium to low budget affairs, you'd think that director Meiert Avis (a music video guy who also directed the little seen "Far From Home") could have wrangled up enough dough for a tripod and/or better script.
As shot by Danny "I've Got the Shakes" Hiele, the film is like a drunken night aboard a small, storm-tossed rowboat. If you're susceptible to motion sickness and don't have your Dramamine handy, you'll be leaning over the edge of wherever you're sitting doing you know what. Obviously realizing he didn't have much with which to work, Avis apparently tried to give the film that cinema vérité feel with the constantly moving, bobbing and weaving camera.
I suppose shooting that way is more convenient than with a tripod (figuring out where to set it, attaching and leveling the camera, etc.), but the potential upchuck factor only adds insult to injury to this bland and instantly forgettable film.
Speaking of conveniences, newcomer John Galt's script is filled with so many opportune developments -- the type that move the story forward but feel completely manufactured and forced -- that you'd swear it was purchased or perhaps even written at some quickie mart.
The tale is nothing new. Some aspiring performers arrive in L.A. with hopes of making it big, fall for each other and then face the trials and tribulations that seeking, attaining and losing fame can create.
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There isn't anything here you haven't seen countless times before in similar tales, but the lack of novelty could have been offset by the fine details and/or presence of engaging characters. Alas, neither is present.
We're supposed to care about Luke Falcon -- blandly played by Steven Strait ("Sky High") -- as he struggles as a singer/songwriter and then gets caught up in the fame game, as well as his budding romance with the precociously named Brier Tucket -- the equally blasé Pell James ("Broken Flowers," "Uptown Girls"). Sadly, neither the script nor the performers manage to do anything with the characters to make them remotely intriguing.
At least the supporting ones are a tad more interesting, but that's not saying much, and can be attributed more to the bad to annoying performances than anything else. While Carrie Fisher ("Wonderland," the original "Star Wars" films) is okay as a modeling mentor/manager, and Kip Pardue ("Thirteen," "The Rules of Attraction") gives it his best shot to impersonate Paul Bettany in the sort of role the latter sometimes played, Shannyn Sossamon ("40 Days and 40 Nights," "A Knight's Tale") and especially Ashlee Simpson ("Raise Your Voice," "The Hot Chick") are embarrassing to awful in their parts.
Of course, considering that Simpson's father is one of the film's producers, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the picture is designed to let her belt out some tunes. Yet, they're just as insipid as the people singing them are, just like the overall film.
And speaking of music, there are various odd little moments -- that presumably are supposed to be whimsical -- where the composer appears to be ripping off/paying homage to the opening theme ditty of the long forgotten TV show "The Courtship of Eddie's Father." Such moments feel completely out of place, but by the time they arrive on the scene, the damage has already been done.
Sticking with the film's convenient nature, I'll close by saying the title is probably the only right thing about the picture. It's quite likely that "Undiscovered" will be just that both in the theaters and not long afterwards when it quickly retreats to the home video market. The film rates as a 3 out of 10.
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