Two friends navigate the best, and last, day of their lives in On the Count of Three, the feature debut of director Jerrod Carmichael.
Val and Kevin didn’t bond over the normal things. What they share is a struggle to understand and enjoy life, which is why they can speak openly to each other about things that scare other people and why, less helpfully, they’re both willing to help the other end their life. They agree to one last day, which they try to spend doing things they always wished they could do. The end, though, hangs over them, heightening every moment they have.
It’s a serious setup that, for anyone familiar with these thoughts, is unsurprisingly filtered through the lens of a dark comedy. Comedy is what Carmichael is best known for as a stand-up comic and creator/star of the sitcom The Carmichael Show, so I suspect he’ll know how to strike the right tone. The big question is how he’ll handle the entire production, as this is his first time directing a feature (he’s done some tv directing, though).
On top of that, he’s also in front of the camera, starring as one half of this buddy comedy. His partner is played by the under-appreciated but always great Christopher Abbott (James White, Possessor).
Reviews from its festival run indicate that Carmichael pulled off the tricky material, so this is likely worth checking out.
On the Count of Three is directed by Jerrod Carmichael and stars Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, and Tiffany Haddish. It will be released in the US on May 13th. Further release dates are not currently known.
Will you check out how they spend their day? Let us know in the comments!
Does content like this matter to you?
Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.