Review: Going Down in La-La Land

The casting of Ludwinski is pitch perfect and the young actor plays Adam with a subtlety and ease that is refreshing and unexpected. We are often treated to lingering shots of Adam's wide-eyed facial reactions to his environments which are handled brilliantly by Ludwinski and his subdued performance throughout the film adds a needed gravity to the more powerful scenes he commands. When he explodes, we pay attention. Lane has concocted a vampy, scene stealing fag hag who is not only loveable but also relatable, albeit over the top.

Andreas--who is known for casting himself in his films with mixed results--actually works really well in this context and becomes increasingly believable on his character's descent into drugs, disease, and desperation. Yet even when hitting his lowest low he manages to drive away in a cute Jeep with a full tank of gas. How very L.A. Cameos by Alec Mapa as himself, Jesse Archer as a queeny L.A. casting agent, Bruce Vilanch as a Chi-Chi LaRue-esque director, Judy Tenuta as a '80s star turned red carpet beard, and Perez Hilton (as a nurse) round out the cast and add to Casper's signature cute-and-campy style.

Andreas as a director has cemented his stylistic form with this film and has improved leaps and bounds since his 2004 debut Slutty Summer. The muted tones he uses evoke a somber LA and exacerbate the characters' directionless ambling about while seeking love and fame in Hollywood. The porn scenes are executed tastefully (sorry guys we only see a few glimpses of dicks) and make the bigger picture sexy rather than slutty.

Going Down in LA-LA Land is currently playing in New York City at Cinema Village and opens in L.A. May 18 at Chinese Theatres.

Watch the trailer below