Danny Buday’s debut as a feature film writer, director, and producer was unveiled at the Newport Beach Film Festival on Thursday night, Apr. 22. With subtle connections to Earth Day, Five Star Day drew a good crowd to its world premiere at Edward’s Big Newport Theatre.
The story starts kicks off with Jake (Cam Gigandet) reading his horoscope from the daily paper, which predicts a “Five Star Day.” Yet the day turns out to be anything but, resulting in the worst birthday of his life as he looses his job, car, girlfriend, and apartment.
Frustrated by the faulty horoscope, he takes to the road with remote wing-man Samuel, (Will Lun Yee) and the intention of disproving astrology. His adventure leads him to Chicago, Atlantic City, and a brief stint in New York City where he respectively encounters three star-crossed people born within minutes at the same Chicago hospital—Sarah Reynolds, (Jena Malone,) Yvette Montgomery (Brooklyn Sudano,) and Wesley Henderson (Max Hartman).
As the door closes on one relationship, the window with Sarah opens, and their interactions are intertwined through the film. Malone delivers a solid performance, believable in her role as a single mother.
When Jake encounters Wesley, their relationship as astral brothers develops. Hartman exhibits his multi-talents as a lounge singer with aspirations for stardom.
Albeit Gigandet’s presentation as the protagonist is a bit quirky he carries the role well.
There is a blend of drama and humor in the story leaving all of Jake’s new friends better off after their encounters. While Buday’s writing and directing hold up, the film has a few hiccups when the protagonist encounters Yvette and Wesley. Overall the story leaves you waiting and wanting to know what will happen next.
Five Star Day is a film that carries the viewer on a journey to not think too much about what they are doing, but in doing the right thing on whatever path they are given.
[etRating value=“ 4”]
The story starts kicks off with Jake (Cam Gigandet) reading his horoscope from the daily paper, which predicts a “Five Star Day.” Yet the day turns out to be anything but, resulting in the worst birthday of his life as he looses his job, car, girlfriend, and apartment.
Frustrated by the faulty horoscope, he takes to the road with remote wing-man Samuel, (Will Lun Yee) and the intention of disproving astrology. His adventure leads him to Chicago, Atlantic City, and a brief stint in New York City where he respectively encounters three star-crossed people born within minutes at the same Chicago hospital—Sarah Reynolds, (Jena Malone,) Yvette Montgomery (Brooklyn Sudano,) and Wesley Henderson (Max Hartman).
As the door closes on one relationship, the window with Sarah opens, and their interactions are intertwined through the film. Malone delivers a solid performance, believable in her role as a single mother.
When Jake encounters Wesley, their relationship as astral brothers develops. Hartman exhibits his multi-talents as a lounge singer with aspirations for stardom.
Albeit Gigandet’s presentation as the protagonist is a bit quirky he carries the role well.
There is a blend of drama and humor in the story leaving all of Jake’s new friends better off after their encounters. While Buday’s writing and directing hold up, the film has a few hiccups when the protagonist encounters Yvette and Wesley. Overall the story leaves you waiting and wanting to know what will happen next.
Five Star Day is a film that carries the viewer on a journey to not think too much about what they are doing, but in doing the right thing on whatever path they are given.
[etRating value=“ 4”]
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