Entry Level

Writer/director Douglas Horn crafts a thought-provoking, low-key romantic comedy that goes for giggles instead of belly laughs, while also addressing the front-burner topic of unemployment. Luckily, the charming cast and breezy script prevent things from getting too heavy-handed. D.B. Sweeney is Clay, a chef who loses his restaurant and finds himself interviewing for corporate jobs for which he has absolutely no qualifications. Along the way, he meets a counselor (Cedric Yarbrough), a disgruntled human resources officer (Taylor Negron), a homeless sage (Kurtwood Smith) and a lovely competitor (Missi Pyle) gunning for the same jobs as he.

Shelf Talk: If the recent Outsourced worked for you, the more modestly budgeted Entry Level will too. Sweeney is a likeable fan favorite, visible from TV’s Jericho and Spike Lee’s recent Miracle at St. Anna. Pyle is somewhat known from top-billing the recent Soccer Mom, while Negron and Smith (That ’70s Show) are familiar faces. Look for a national public relations campaign, including interviews with talent, as street date nears.