Johnny Twennies (Gibson Frazier) is a newspaper reporter in modern day New York (1998 to be exact) living every cliche from movies of the 1920’s. Shot in black and white, we watch Johnny’s post-WWI optimism clash with the bitter cynicism of his gay, bohemian photographer, Tim (Anthony Rapp), his h***y girlfriend, Samantha (Susan Egan), whom Johnny can’t ever bring himself to kiss on the lips, and generally everyone else in New York. Johnny sings and dances his way through the many nutty hijinx that plague him. Will Johnny get the “big scoop” on mob boss, Mr. Pitt? Will his friend Virginia (Cara Buono) find love and a career as a singer? Will Tim patch things up with his lover, Richard (Dwight Ewell)? Will Johnny put out for Samantha? Will Johnny escape the meddlings of his Victorian era mother in his love life? Will Johnny get a f’ing clue?
While all these questions, and more, will be answered, the important one is whether the film works. It does. The film could have used heavier camera work and faster editing at the zany finish, and the motif of cutting to Johnny’s point of view, which is invariably some scenario in a forgotten film of the jazz age, is inconsistent and a little jarring. These are all minor gripes. Writer/director Adam Abraham and writer/star Gibson Frazier have created an indie gem.
