Saving Buddy Charles Is A New Cult Classic
Written by Daphne Bryant
When director Grace Wethor invited me to the LA premiere of Saving Buddy Charles, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. A week later, I’m thanking god for Tubi, Partiful and IG mutuals, because Saving Buddy Charles has emerged as my favorite friendship film of the year.
The hilariously heartfelt comedy follows Clara (Analesa Fisher) and Sydney (Jillian Spaeder), two best friends who embark on a cross-country mission to retrieve a pet lizard, the Buddy Charles in question, from Sydney’s ex-boyfriend. Oh, and also Clara is harboring a life-altering secret, but I won’t give away too much (because where’s the fun in that?!)
What I will tell you is that the film has some refreshing queer and disability representation, very well-done and executed with care, but it’s not necessarily a movie about being gay or being disabled. Really, it’s a movie about being, and I think that’s Saving Buddy Charles’ biggest strength.
Of course, there are other major highlights. The cinematography, for starters, is so beautifully lush. Almost immediately I fell in love with the colors and scenery and how warm everything felt; the film really captures the mysticity of summer. Then there’s the humor, which is so Gen-Z in the very best way. Fisher and Spaeder are both such stars, and they bounce off of each other perfectly. In fact, the entire cast has stellar comedic timing, and I found myself cackling on more than one occasion. Comical prowess combined with a very strong and honest emotional core drives the narrative and compliments every crazy plot point thrown at the audience.
Most inspiring, to me at least, was the Q&A session that occurred after the premiere. Fisher, Spaeder, Wethor and Ariel Martin (producer and supporting actress) sat down for a few questions, and answered them all with such grace and honor. It was so cool seeing a cast and crew that are all around my age. I know I speak for so many creatives when I say that Hollywood is feeling more and more like an impenetrable wasteland (especially for the youth). Great, diverse stories and actors are out there, but they’re having a hard time getting their work onto a big stage. When things start feeling dire, that’s the best time to get up and create your own stories, make your own dreams come true (but not without lots of help from your fellow artists). I left the Lumiere Cinema feeling so full of hope and awe.
Saving Buddy Charles is a love letter to road trips, girlhood and weirdos everywhere; a must-watch and a new cult classic.
