Film Review #7: Fantasy Life

A film for those who think Lake Bell kinda sucks.

Regal Theatres Monday's Mystery Movie (3/16) was revealed to be Fantasy Life, written and directed by Matthew Shear.

Warning: there are spoilers ahead.

Shear concurrently stars in the film as Sam, an anxious tax lawyer who pays a visit to his therapist after being let go from his job.

As Sam exits the office, his therapist's wife/secretary suggests that he babysit their granddaughters.

Her son David and his wife Dianne have three daughters between the ages of 6 and 11, and at a generous rate of $300 per night, this setup might have worked well for Sam -- had he not fallen for Dianne (Amanda Peet).

Dianne is a former actress who has lost her sense of purpose following a decade of unemployment. When Sam enters her life, she finally feels seen again.

Meanwhile, her husband David is portrayed as an alcoholic, wanna-be rockstar who leaves the continent on tour and practically thrusts his wife into the arms of their "manny".

Fortunately, nothing much happens between Sam and Dianne (because this isn't Cheers). The couple share one kiss, and Dianne makes it clear that they will never be together.

However, in the midst of a tense dinner party, Dianne vengefully tells her husband that she has been sleeping with Sam, leading David to hop into his car and crash in an intoxicated rage.

This key misunderstanding, paired with Sam having a panic attack and telling Dianne's daughters that he is in love with their mom, effectively puts an end to his personal and professional relationships with the family.

Sam does, however, finally land a girlfriend on Hinge. So that's fun for him.

My rating? 6 out of 10.

Sam's character is quite likeable -- a young, unassuming film advocate who is simply trying to find his way in the world.

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of substance to Shear's plot, which often progresses tediously despite its 91-minute runtime.

There are subtle comedic elements that work well, but in my estimation, this film doesn't do enough to stand out and will likely blend into a mix of forgotten 2026 theatrical releases.

What were your thoughts on Fantasy Life? Feel free to leave a note in the comments below, let's discuss :)

Here are some other films I've seen lately:

Undertone

Hoppers

Slanted

The Bride!

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