In a World...

The male-dominated world of voiceover artists is explored from a female perspective in this touching comedy from Lake Bell, who stars, writes and directs. She plays Carol, who is competing against Hollywood's gravel-throated heavyweights for the trailer for a new Hunger Games-style blockbuster. And Carol has the added burden of trying to step out from the shadow of her father (Fred Melamed), one of the best VO guys in the business. It sounds like the formula for a spoof, but Bell's finely tuned, somewhat introspective film deals more with father/daughter issues and the melancholy of being single in LA (though she gets plenty of attention from a sound recordist played by Demetri Martin). The comedy is observational rather than gag-based - indeed, a subplot involving Carol's sister (Michaela Watkins) and her partner (Rob Corddry) adds some unexpectedly poignant texture. Nevertheless, the movie resolves itself in true, feel-good underdog-movie fashion, with a number of famous guest stars adding an element of surprise whenever the story might be needing a lift.