Easier with Practice

A quiet, lazily paced independent drama about a shy twentysomething author entangled in a heated phone-sex relationship with a stranger may not sound enticing. So it’s testament to the persuasive writing and direction of first-timer Kyle Patrick Alvarez that ‘Easier with Practice’ is convincing and charming. Giving a performance of monumental unease, Brian Geraghty plays Davy Mitchell, whose book tour of the Southern states takes a strange turn when he answers a call to his motel room. The film’s third act will divide audiences – some may find the twist, based on a real incident, bold and challenging, while others will find it obvious – but there’s no doubting Alvarez’s promise, as he weaves familiar indie elements into a film that is likeable, insightful and compelling.