Let’s be real, most people love the idea of dating a partner that is wild, carefree, and willing to push boundaries. But then, when it happens, that fantasy most often turns into a relationship built on jealousy and awkwardness. That’s the sort of issue that plagues the lead character, Elliot, in the upcoming comedy film, “Vanilla.”
As the title and the new trailer (which we are debuting exclusively) suggests, “Vanilla” tells the story of a fairly boring, if not totally bland, dude that finds himself exploring his budding relationship with an exciting woman while going on a road trip to sell a van. Things seem to be going great, as the vanilla guy is forced out of his comfort zone by the free-spirited woman. That is until he learns more about her occupation and other secrets, which threaten to blow up his fantasy.
The new film is from writer-director Will Dennis. The comedy marks his feature-length directorial debut. The filmmaker also stars in “Vanilla,” opposite Kelsea Bauman-Murphy, Aparna Nancherla, and Johnny Sibilly.
“The story is inspired by some personal experiences I’ve had in startups, doing stand-up, and a road trip with a [now ex-]girlfriend I took to New Orleans,” Dennis said to us recently. “While the real-life road trip was a blast, that relationship didn’t end so well. The script-writing process gave me a chance to put some of my real-life choices under a microscope and see if the fictional characters might fare better than I did.”
Dennis added that he actually pushed his own limits to help prepare for the film, saying, “During the writing process, I had to challenge my own somewhat vanilla tendencies and so some camming myself. I took off my shirt, went live on a prominent camming website, and felt what that was like. I made some fun acquaintances and had a few outlandish interactions as well.”
Since most of us are stuck in lockdown, you’ll be happy to know that “Vanilla” will be available on VOD on April 28, courtesy of Gravitas Ventures.
Here’s the synopsis:
A freewheeling comedian, determined to save her family business, invites an uptight entrepreneur on a road trip to sell a van with a complicated history. Calling it a first date, they establish road rules that include a dance collaboration, separate sleeping quarters, and French pastries. Romance ignites on their three-day trip. As they discover each other’s quirks and secrets, they must decide if their new connection is worth more than the van.