One of the funniest (and most groundbreaking) films of 2014 was Obvious Child, Gillian Robespierre’s indie that treated the sensitive issue of abortion with rare unabashed honesty. It was an incredibly promising debut for the writer-director and the breakthrough role for its star, the equally charming and funny Jenny Slate—and thankfully, the two have reunited a few years later to bring us a new project, Landline.
This time around, Slate stars as Dana, who bonds with her younger sister Ali (Abby Quinn) after the two discover that their dad is cheating on their mother. Meanwhile, Dana is also dealing with her own messy feelings towards her fiancé, played by Jay Duplass. With a great cast that also includes Edie Falco and John Turturro as Dana and Ali’s parents, a ’90s backdrop sure to invoke some delightful nostalgia (Payphones! Puffy, colorful exercise jackets!), and enthusiastic reviews out of Sundance earlier this year, this looks like it could serve as great counterprogramming to this summer’s big blockbusters.
Landline hits theaters on July 21.
