Shea Whigham & Carrie Coon Are The Perfect Pair In This Unconventional Crime Thriller

Lake George
is an example of a crime drama with a welcome dash of offbeat comedy. It’s less of the former and more of the latter. Written and directed by Jeffrey Reiner, the dark comedy neo-noir is a breath of fresh air at points, and a recycled crime thriller at others. What keeps it going is its oddball sense of humor and the winning pair of Shea Whigham and Carrie Coon, who are delightful and perfect together onscreen. Lake George is very much the epitome of the journey being more important than the destination.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when watching Lake George. But within minutes it had won me over with its charm and humor. Whigham plays Don, an ex-con who goes to mob boss Armen (Glenn Fleshler) to ask for the money he’s owed. Armen isn’t so giving, though, and in exchange asks Don to find and kill his girlfriend, Phyllis (Coon), who he believes has got too much control over his business. Of course, Don is unprepared for Phyllis’ attempts to con Armen, and that’s when Lake George turns into a fun and unexpected road trip crime comedy.

Carrie Coon & Shea Whigham Are Perfect Together

It’s rare when an onscreen duo pops, and for Lake George to really and fully work, Coon and Whigham had to be believable as an onscreen duo. The good news is they are completely in sync with each other. Coon is every bit as charismatic as Phyllis is required to be (if not more), imbuing the character with a strong will and wit that sparkles onscreen. The actress is pure energy mixed with sharp humor and just a glint of mischief that keeps us engaged and waiting for the other shoe to drop.

As Don, Whigham is the exact opposite, portraying him as weary, stoic, and remorseful. Don is a man who’s done playing the game and wants to get out of it as soon as possible, retiring to Lake George so he can finally have some peace. If Coon’s Phyllis is the conniving one, Whigham’s Don is the muted accomplice who simply wants what he’s owed, but with little hassle and no violence. The actors make the most out of the duo’s differences as they breathe life into the story. They’re magnetic to watch, and their dynamic is one of the best things about the film.

The rest of the cast, though less prominent, is memorable in roles that may initially seem very stereotypical but offer a bit more heft than what’s on the surface. Fleshler is especially funny as Armen, injecting his character with a mixture of toxic masculinity and a tough crime boss attitude with emotional vulnerability. I genuinely believed he cared about Phyllis, even if his need to protect himself and his activities proved greater than his love for her. Max Casella as Harout, Armen’s right-hand man, is great. He’s pushy and nonchalant.

Lake George Is A Dynamic Buddy Comedy

The Characters’ Situation Is Both Funny & Sad

There are a lot of buddy comedies out there, but Lake George works beyond that because its story is truly dynamic. There’s a bit of a lull as Don and Phyllis’ attempts to one-up Armen grow tired, but the film’s finale more than makes up for it. Reiner knows the meaning of a situational comedy and mines the premise until the very end. The crime comedy becomes a bit of a heist, but Reiner’s script delivers some genuinely funny moments, with Coon and Whigham nailing the dialogue and comedic timing.

The situation they find themselves in is incredibly funny and also a bit sad. I felt for Don, who was just trying to leave his past behind. His exhaustion with his current life and remorse for the choices he’s made in the years before going to prison weigh on him; he doesn’t share the same exuberance for the crime life that Phyllis does, though Lake George doesn’t underestimate either of them. From breaking and entering to accidental shootings and showdowns, Reiner brings an intoxicating energy to the whole production.

And while there are genuine bonding moments between the characters, Lake George makes sure to stay on the believable side with its ending. Sometimes, no matter how much we want something, life doesn’t turn out the way we’d hoped. Embedded in its humor is a sense of melancholy that heightens the emotions prevalent throughout the film, surprisingly tugging at our heartstrings.

Lake George is in theaters and available on digital on December 6. The film is 118 minutes long and not yet rated.

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7/10

Lake George

Pros

• Carrie Coon and Shea Whigham are fantastic together and have great chemistry
• The film balances humor and sadness while being a fun buddy crime comedy

Cons

• Don and Phyllis’ attempts to one-up Armen grow a bit tired