By Brandon Dunlap
For The State News
When you are an actor, banned from every audition in town - including open calls - and desperately need work, what do you do?
Stick up a travel agency.
That's what the talented minds of Finn Wrisley and James Ohngren delivered in this unpredictable comedic documentary, "Talent."
The independent film is set in East Lansing and premiered at the East Lansing Film Festival on March 25. It is directed by MSU theater senior Nathaniel Nose.
"Talent" proves it's hard to break into the "the business." Brent (played by Wrisley) and Jimmy (played by Ohngren) are banned from every audition for their outrageous "talents" during tryouts, including stripping in the audition for a children's show. Their antics leave them at the mercy of their manager, Maxi Reinhart. Reinhart, a failed figure skater, encourages Brent and Jimmy to "grab life by the stuff and hold their own auditions."
Their antics include a "robbery" of East Lansing's STA Travel, 207 E. Grand River Ave., where they held fake guns and "kidnapped" a film director. The characters were taken to jail. An upstairs neighbor becomes an obstacle that tests the men's friendship.
This mockumentary of the unyielding pursuit of dreams is extremely random, but in a good way. Almost every minute is filled with jokes.
"Talent" is directed by, produced by and stars all MSU students and faculty, and it showcases Wrisley and Ohngren. The pair are so in sync, you could mistake them for a hilariously dramatic married couple - if they weren't straight.
The film didn't even need the aid of one-liners or tedious punch lines to engage the audience in the twosome's stunts. The facial expressions and conversations alone between Brent and Jimmy make the entire movie - it's no wonder they're the stars.
One of the funniest aspects of the film was that Brent and Jimmy did really crazy things to prove they were serious actors, and although this lands them in psychiatric "wellness" classes, they were actually very good.
There were times in the film when the audience was just waiting for the next crazy outburst or hilarious facial expression. Luckily, for the cast of "Talent," not only Wrisley and Ohngren had it - the other members of the cast brought their A-game. From the continuous cereal-eating of Chris Neal, to the expertise in sandwiches of Blair Wojcik, the cast of "Talent" kept the unpredictability and silliness constant for almost two hours.
A film that really inspires those who have dreams without the means to obtain them, this comedy fits in very well with today's comedic films that showcase the energy and random humor of the stars. "Talent" in its entire unpredictable splendor is a perfect film to watch with your friends.
All in all, if there were any question that the cast of "Talent" had humor, the outburst of laughter most definitely will prove it.