Above The Clouds Image

Above The Clouds

By Bobby LePire | February 3, 2025

Above The Clouds is writer-director Jon Hill’s feature-length debut. The comedic drama stars Chris Labadie as Jay, a former tech bro who left Los Angeles to head back to Philadelphia. He was away for six months tending to his dying father, and now that he has passed on, Jay is looking to finally follow his dreams of becoming a stand-up comic. In fact, his friend Mikey (Rob Evors) is throwing a huge birthday bash wherein loads of comics have the chance to perform. However, Jay’s homecoming is turned upside down when he discovers that his roommate, Diesel (Michael James Kelly), has leased out his room to a social media celebrity, who happens to be a cat.

On the morning of the event, Jay meets Dani (Kahyun Kim) by happenstance at a coffee shop. The two engage in awkward but playful, only to cement their bond over a lady who saw Dani’s missing dog “in a dream.” Jay offers to help Dani look for the pooch, and they spend the majority of the day together. Is there light even in grief? Will Jay find the courage to do his routine?

“…away for six months tending to his dying father, and now that he has passed on, Jay is looking to finally follow his dreams of becoming a stand-up comic.”

Above The Clouds is a sweet little story about people in a state of flux. Jay tries to keep his head above the clouds despite his grief. Of course, not dealing with it head-on means it lingers and can make one act unusual. Dani is still reeling from a few things in her past, but her connection with Jay could help heal her as well. The colorful side characters are also a lot of fun. Phillip Andre Botello shows up late in the film as Brian, who adds a lot of heart. Brandon (Matty Cardarople) is the stoner caretaker of the Instagram influencer feline, and his stoner sensibilities are hilarious.

The cast adds to the fun immeasurably. Labadie is terrific, balancing the comedy with the underlying drama that defines his character. Kim shines in a sequence about the appropriate time to get mad; hilarious stuff. Kelly is energetic and delightful, while Cardarople nails the physical comedy. Botello is always a welcomed presence, and he ably brings the comedy and drama together in just a few scenes.

Above The Clouds is a cute comedy with a solid dramatic throughline that makes the ending land perfectly. The cast’s strong, and the plot takes a few unexpected but delightful turns. This is a promising debut that hits all the right emotional beats.

For more information, visit the official Above The Clouds site.

Above The Clouds (2025)

Directed and Written: Jon Hill

Starring: Chris Labadie, Kahyun Kim, Rob Evors, Michael James Kelly, Phillip Andre Botello, etc.

Movie score: 8/10

Above The Clouds Image

"…a cute comedy with a solid dramatic throughline..."

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