Barbara Barrie, Cara Buono, Charlie Tahan, comedy, Danny Chavarriaga, drama, Jackie Cruz, James Leon, Joey Pollari, Margaret Berkowitz, Max Talisman, Mili Diaz, movies, New York City, reviews, Romy Reiner, Taylor Trensch, Things Like This
May 19, 2025
by Carla Hay
Directed by Max Talisman
Culture Representation: Taking place in New York City and in New Jersey, the comedy/drama film “Things Like This” features a predominantly white cast of characters (with a few Latin people and African Americans) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.
Culture Clash: A struggling novelist and a frustrated talent agency assistant begin dating each other and have varying degrees of comfort and discomfort over their self-esteem and the level of commitment that they want for their relationship.
Culture Audience: “Things Like This” will appeal primarily to people who are interested in low-key romantic comedies/dramas from a gay male perspective.
“Things Like This” mixes cuteness and awkwardness in this romantic comedy/drama that uses stereotypical formulas but has realistic characters. The movie needed more finesse in acting and dialogue, but it’s generally charming. “Things Like This” benefits from having a talented cast members who are watchable, even when some of the dialogue is a little cringeworthy.
Written and directed by Max Talisman, “Things Like This” is his feature-film directorial debut. The movie was filmed on location in New York City and in New Jersey, where the story takes place. There have been too many romantic movies to count where two people are dating each other, one of them is reluctant to make a commitment and/or express true feelings, they have a major falling out, and then something happens that probably brings the couple back together.
“Things Like This” uses all of those clichés but what makes the movie rise above mediocrity is that Talisman has created unique characters who are memorable and come across as believable people, even when their dialogue and situations veer into a sitcom tone. The couple (two openly gay men) at the center of the story in “Things Like This” also have the unusual situation of having the same first name, which is somewhat of an effective running joke in the movie.
“Things Like This” begins by showing aspiring novelist Zack Anthony (played by Talisman) waking up in bed in his New York City apartment on the morning after a one-night-stand with Ben (played by James Leon), who makes it clear that he really doesn’t want to see Zack again. Zack asks in a somewhat needy tone, “Are you leaving? I was going to make us cookies.”
Ben says he’s on a diet. And then, Ben blurts out: “I don’t hate sex. I just hate having sex with you. You’re like Winnie the Pooh: adorable with a tummy and no pants on.” And that’s the last that Zack sees of Ben, who makes a quick exit from the apartment.
Zack is in his mid-to-late 20s. He feels “stuck” in life because he’s unemployed, his aspiring career as a novelist has stalled, and he often acts like a man-child. Zack is also self-conscious about his body size. He’s feels unworthy and cynical about finding true love. And even though Zack says he likes being gay because the gay men he meets are less likely to want to be in a committed relationship, you can tell that Zack is a romantic who wants to be in a committed relationship but hasn’t met the right person yet.
After this one-night-stand rejection, Zack gets some “tough love” talk from his best friend Kenny (played by Charlie Tahan), who has known Zack since their childhoods. Kenny has been paying Zack’s rent for a year, which is about the same period of time that Zack has said he expected it would take to get a book publishing deal. Kenny has gotten frustrated by what he thinks is Zack not putting enough effort into going after the things that Zack wants and deserves.
As they sit on a park bench together, Kenny bluntly comments about Zack’s “slacker” lifestyle: “You’ve turned into a complete degenerate. You dress like you’re in middle school.” Kenny also scolds Zack because nothing is happening in Zack’s aspirations to get Zack a publishing deal for Zack’s first novel: “Undeath in the Family,” a horror fantasy story about a family of father and a son who come from a long line of vampire hunters.
Meanwhile, another mid-to-late-20s gay man named Zack in New York City is also experiencing frustrations with his life for different reasons. Zack Mandel (played by Joey Pollari) has a job and a live-in boyfriend, but he feels unsatisfied with both of them. Of course, Zack Mandel’s life will change when he meets Zack Anthony.
For the past two years, Zack Mandel has been working as an administrative assistant to a demanding and rude agent named Margie Kitlin (played by Cara Buono), the owner of Kitlin & Co. talent agency for entertainers. Margie underappreciates Zack and never signs the people he recommends. Zack Mandel’s best friend/”work wife” is sassy Ava (played by scene stealer Jackie Cruz), an administrative assistant who is constantly giving pep talks to Zack, who is jaded and has a tendency to be pessimistic.
Zack Mandel’s boyfriend Eric (played by Taylor Trensch) is the type to make things for Zack to bring to work in a lunch sack, but in the beginning of the movie, Zack Mandel throws away what Eric gave him before Zack goes into the office. It’s later shown that Eric is very much in love with Zack, but the feeling isn’t mutual. Not much information is given on if Zack was ever in love with Eric, but it’s obvious that Zack now feels bored and stuck in this relationship.
Zack Anthony and Zack Mandel have their “meet cute” moment at an industry party that is a showcase for an aspiring singer named Lily Avalon (played by Mili Diaz), who is dating Kenny. Zack Anthony, Kenny, and their mutual friends Chloe (played by Margaret Berkowitz) Peter (played by Danny Chavarriaga), who are a dating couple, are at the party. Chloe is Zack Anthony’s other best friend, whom he confides to the most about his love life. Zack Mandel is at the party because he thinks Lily could be someone he could recommend to Margie to possibly sign as a client at the talent agency
Zack Mandel meets Zack Anthony at the bar when he sees that Zack Anthony is having a little argument with the bartender because Zack Anthony doesn’t have the money to pay for the drink that Zack Anthony ordered. Zack Mandel offers to pay for the drink. And when they introduce themselves to each other, the two Zacks have a laugh over having the same first name.
Even though romantic sparks are flying between Zack Mandel and Zack Anthony, Zack Mandel is up front in saying that he has a boyfriend. That doesn’t stop Zack Anthony from flirting and inviting Zack Mandel to a bar called Dingbat’s to buy him a drink as a thank you. Before they go on this date, Zack Mandel cruelly breaks up with Eric after saying no to Eric’s marriage proposal. Zack Mandel immediately moves out of the apartment he shares with Eric and stays in a hotel until Zack can find a new place to live.
One of the things that’s realistic about “Things Like This” is that the two people in this couple are very flawed in their own ways. Zack Anthony tends to be emotionally immature. Zack Mandel tends to be self-absorbed. Their first date has some uncomfortable moments, which is authentic to many first dates where people are trying to get to know one another.
Zack Anthony and Zack Mandel have similarities and differences in their personalities and personal backgrounds. Zack Anthony is more expressive and immediate with his emotions. Zack Mandel is more cautious and aloof with his emotions. In their love lives and in their careers, Zack Anthony is more of a risk taker. Zack Mandel would rather play it safe, even if he gets stuck in a situation that makes him unhappy. Both Zacks have creative sides and like a lot of the same music.
During their first date, the two Zacks also ask each other about their families. Zack Anthony, who is originally from a Philadelphia suburb, says that his parents divorced when he was young, and he has a younger half-brother (who are not seen in the movie), but Zack Anthony’s grandmother Portia Anthony (played by Barbara Barrie) makes a short appearance. Zack Mandel, who is originally from New Jersey, has some unresolved issues and a tense relationship with his affluent widower father Paul Mandel (played by Eric Roberts), a workaholic businessman who has never really accepted Zack’s sexual identity. Zack Mandel has a younger sister named Hannah Mandel (played by Romy Reiner), who’s in her last year of high school.
Without going into too many details in this review, the movie eventually reveals that the two Zacks find out that they have a shared history from when they both middle schoolers who went to the same Jewish summer camp. Pollari, Talisman and the rest of the cast members are believable in their roles, which makes it easier to take when some of the movie’s dialogue and situations get maudlin or corny. “Things Like This” has everything that you might expect in a romantic comedy/drama about two flawed cynics who fall in love with each other, with enough witty banter and engaging characters to keep things interesting.
MPX Releasing released “Things Like This” in select U.S. cinemas on May 16, 2025. The movie will be released on digital and VOD on June 10, 2025.