User:Pastmat/sandbox

Aaron Peterson of The Hollywood Outsider praised Cortez's acting and wrote that the film is "emphatically worth the visit".

Fishbowl California is a 2018 comedy-drama film directed by Michael MacRae. It stars Steve Olson, Katrina Bowden, Katherine Cortez, Kate Flannery, Quinton Aaron, Tim Bagley, Jenna Willis and Richard Riehle. It premiered on March 24, 2018 at the Columbus International Film & Animation Festival. It was released by Gravitas Ventures on May 1, 2018.

Plot
Rodney (Steve Olson), unemployed and on the verge of 30, finds unexpected inspiration from his encounter with June (Katherine Cortez), an ailing and cantankerous widow.

Cast

 * Steve Olson as Rodney
 * Katherine Cortez as June
 * Katrina Bowden as Tess
 * Kate Flannery as Susan
 * Quinton Aaron as Rad Chad
 * Tim Bagley as Woody
 * Richard Riehle as Glen
 * Max Adler (actor) as Billy Kobrin
 * Jenna Willis as Olivia
 * Josh Sussman as Philip

Production
Filming took place in Los Angeles; primarily North Hollywood, West Hollywood and Burbank, California, between March and April 2017.

Release
The film premiered in March 2018 at the Columbus International Film & Animation Festival and was released by Gravitas Ventures on May 1, 2018. It was released on all major VOD platforms as well as Hulu.

Reception
Rotten Tomatoes critic Aaron Peterson gave the film a "fresh" rating, saying the film is "emphatically worth the visit."

Matthew Parkinson of Cinemarter.com gave it a middling review: "Fishbowl California is a harmless but unambitious."

Jeff York of the Chicago Independent Film Critic's Circle noted, "There’s a quiet nobility to these has-been’s and never-was’ on display in Fishbowl California. This little indie that could will put a lump in your throat, in between laughs. The movie is quite the Valentine to the town and its lovable eccentrics."

John Arkelian of Artsforum Magazine gave it a "B-/B", saying the story has "a quirky sensibility, with nice dryly comedic bits with assorted supporting players."