Matt Barats brings mordant wit to both sides of the camera, for better or worse.
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TIFF In Matt Barats’ “Anchors Aweigh,” a caustic alt-comedian is left adrift after his failed proposal, prompting him to revisit old footage from his college days and ruminate on his arrested development. It’s a lot less serious than it sounds, in part because Barats’ self-insert — who he also plays — has a sardonic cadence that turns each observation into a punchline, regardless of how few of them land.
Outstretched despite its mere 71 minutes, the film occasionally takes the form of a documentary shot by Barats’ unnamed protagonist, a comedian in his late thirties who hopes to marry Megan (Serena Profaci), a 25-year-old heiress and Broadway hopeful. It also steps outside of this form on occasion, taking on a slightly more traditional appearance, but Barats’ rule-breaking results in contiguous (if not entirely purposeful) scenes that wander through his character’s ennui. Megan’s awkward response to his sudden proposal sends him spiraling, both creatively and existentially, as he both revisits MiniDV footage from his teen years while shooting new, half-formed solo sketches and anecdotes with what appears to be the same camera.
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