Problemista

Ex-SNL writer and comedian Julio Torres wrote directed and stars in this film as Alejandro, plays an aspiring toymaker struggling to find an employer willing to sponsor his immigration visa.

Early in the film, he meets the ultimate Karen/Miranda Priestly, this time named Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton). She potential-maybe-ish hires him to assemble a gallery show of paintings by her cryogenically frozen husband.

Elizabeth is the type of boss who assumes Alejandro can not only solve her filing issues using just Filemaker Pro but also float her pricey FedEx needs. In time, the duo becomes a fine pair of misfits worth rooting for.

A lot of Problemisa works. I laughed a lot at Elizabeth's over-the-top character and Alejandro's subtle physical comedy. It's also a very entertaining commentary on millennial angst, the gig economy, and the catch-22 of the U.S. immigration system. It also delivers some truly touching moments.

The problem with Problemista however, is that it tries of lot of additional, experimental things that do not work as well. I would have skipped the magical Salividorian mother story which condescendingly sidetracks the story. A sketchy bit representing Craigslist as a genie is completely overused and the other fantasy sequences come across more trite than edgy.

This is the type of film we used to have once a week and you'd enjoy its uniqueness at the theater, enjoy the performances, and then look forward to the next week. In the new world where folks visit the theater a few times of the year and watch most experimental works on their TV, I can't say this is a must-see. But with less lofty expectations, Torres and Swinton's characters, combined with a satisfying ending, are fun enough to give it your ten bucks.

In a nutshell: Julio Torres and Tilda Swinton center are a funny duo worth rooting for in a film that is not.

Where to watch: In theaters now.

Award potential: Unlikely.

Would it be better with Olivia Colman: Of course.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks or catch it when its streaming.