Turnover

Director/co-writer Linda Palmer’s dramedy Turnover is centered on Peter (Paul Guilfoyle), the owner of a French restaurant whose life is quickly unraveling. His wife wants a divorce and plans to make their son the owner of the future franchise. On top of that, his manager and roommate, Henry (Riker Lynch), catches wind of the situation and decides to sabotage Peter’s business by hiring a group of utterly unqualified employees to ruin the restaurant from within. Among his chosen saboteurs are Miguel (Carlos Carrasco), an ex-convict turned cook, Gladys (Julia Silverman), an elderly woman who hasn’t worked in 40 years, Pepper (Isabella Blake-Thomas), a perpetually tardy young woman, and William (Adwin Brown), a timid young man who has never managed people. What Henry doesn’t anticipate is that this unlikely team will evolve into something far more meaningful for both Peter and the restaurant.

Let’s begin with a few of the film’s minor flaws. The opening feels a bit uneven. At first, it seems as though Henry might be the film’s protagonist rather than Peter. But once Henry’s plan is set in motion, the story finds its footing and begins to build momentum. Visually, Palmer makes the interesting choice of using a shaky handheld camera. A steadicam would have better suited the film’s tone and genre.

“…Peter is the owner of a French restaurant whose life is quickly unraveling…”

While the film is marketed as a comedy, and there are certainly moments of humor that land effectively, Turnover plays more like a modern-day drama about ordinary people dealing with real struggles. The film presents serious themes and situations in which many of us would also feel overwhelmed. It is a heartfelt portrait of daily life disguised as a comedy.

Where Turnover truly shines is in character development. Nearly every character goes through an arc, from the main cast to background figures like the restaurant’s regular patrons, we witness genuine transformation. In terms of performances, some characters are painted in broad, almost cartoonish strokes. Peter’s ex-wife, for instance, is portrayed as harshly as you would expect, and several supporting roles lean into familiar stereotypes. Still, it’s clear the actors approached their roles with care and sincerity.

Despite some unusual visual choices, especially when it comes to framing and the handheld aesthetic, Turnover surprises with its sincerity, optimism, gravity, and occasional bursts of humor. While the dialogue sometimes feels undercooked, occasionally resembling lines from a school play, the film still ultimately offers a satisfying warmth and is well worth your time.