REVIEWS

Indie comedies often walk the fine line between charm and cliché, but Third Wheel sets itself apart with a fresh premise rooted in the realities of modern relationships. Written and directed by Blake Tamarkin, the film follows Ray, a hopeless romantic grappling with heartbreak while trying to navigate life as the only single man among his circle of newly-coupled friends. The film aims to explore friendship, self-discovery, and the complicated aftermath of love in a way that feels both familiar and personal ...

 There was that song. From 1970. Yeah, it was Neil Sedaka’s “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”. Well, it goes without saying, doesn’t it? It’s happened to us all, perhaps multiple times over. No matter what the circumstances that caused it, much less whose fault it was, there’s the associated pain and frustration that is present, unavoidable, and so often, lingering. However, is this by our OWN decision, unwilling to liberate ourselves from its clutches, wallowing in misery instead of JUST MOVING ON? ...

 Blake Tamarkin makes his directorial and writing debut with Third Wheel. Tamarkin also produced and edited, alongside Sujit Agrawal. Meanwhile, family members Michael, Paige, Kailey, and Jason Tamarkin all contributed in front of or behind the camera. Lead actor Anthony Casabianca served as an associate producer as well. Clearly, this was a tight-knit indie production with family and friends helping to bring the filmmaker’s vision to life. Did all their sweat, blood, and tears translate into a relatable story and engaging characters? ...

  “Did you have sex with my girlfriend?” It’s always an interesting question when it comes right down to it. Some of you out there might have even asked somebody that very same thing at some point in time. You’ve already lost the battle if you have to ask that of someone, I figure - it not only sounds desperate, but it’s definitely an indication that you’re no longer really talking to your significant other. You might still be together or even live together perhaps, but that question is definitely a sign that any meaningful & important dialogue between ya has long since passed. Young Ray is clearly on the outs of his relationship; it just appears that he doesn’t know it yet when we first meet him. His girlfriend, Cecilia, has been stepping out on him with some guy named Trevor, and while he’s piecing the puzzle together slowly, it clearly doesn’t feel that good. They had spent six years with each other, which is a significant amount of time, and just like that, it was over. ...

 When you’ve built your life around another person, how do you begin to manage their absence after they’re gone? Writer/director Blake Tamarkin forces charming twenty-something Ray (Anthony Casabianca) to tackle that emotional question in his meditative comedy-drama Third Wheel ...