Everyone has that band: the one you cranked up as an angry misunderstood teen, that made high school hallway politics bearable, that got you thinking about the wider world and your place in it. (Mine was They Might Be Giants, in case you're wondering.) But what happens when the music stops? In the indie drama "Trigger," one such band reunites and two strong lead performances almost make up for the uneven script and production values.
Vic (Tracy Wright) and Kat (Molly Parker) were childhood best friends who later formed the groundbreaking rock duo Trigger. A decade after their public breakup — owing to Vic's heroin habit and Kat's alcoholism — the mostly sober duo tentatively meet up at a Toronto restaurant en route to an event planned in their honor. While Vic remained in Toronto and only plays sporadically, Kat enjoys success writing music for television in Los Angeles. Over one chilly night, the now-defunct Trigger bond, clash and fully realize the continuing impact their music has on frustrated, creative young women.
The last film of Tracy Wright before she succumbed to pancreatic cancer shortly after production wrapped, "Trigger" is a labor of love. Written especially for Wright and Parker, "Trigger" was filmed on a shoestring and at times it shows: The lighting in the overly long opening restaurant scene is unflattering, to say the least. More flashbacks to Trigger's heyday may have deepened the viewer's understanding of Vic and Kat's relationship. As it is, it's unclear whether they were just friends or something more, however briefly.
Thankfully, "Trigger" has a saving grace, or two, in Wright and Parker. Wright's interpretation of strong but soulful Vic is a lovely swan song, and Parker's Kat gracefully displays subtle hints of the damaged woman lurking underneath the polished surface. When Vic and Kat belt out one of their greatest hits in an impromptu performance, it's easy to see why the band still has so many admirers, years after their last concert ended in shambles.
The best parts of "Trigger," however, are the fan encounters. When Vic is approached by a gaggle of teenage girls who fawn over her before offering her their demo (on cassette tape!), her reaction — sheepish, surprised and proud — is beautiful to watch. And later, a twentysomething club employee (Sarah Polley) recognizes Trigger and exclaims: "Oh my God, you made high school not suck for me!" Anyone who's been in high school knows just what she means. There's power in those words. (And I may steal them if I ever meet Flansburgh and Linnell. Thanks, guys.)
DVD extras include an actors' table read.
Film: 4 Yaps Extras: 3 Yaps