Pulpmovies Reviews

Liyla (Molly Feigh) is a slob. Overweight, messy and lazy she seeks solace for her out of control life in comfort food, drink and cigarettes. Amelia (Pamela Sutch) is – in her own way – just as bad. Wealthy, privileged and arrogant, she has managed to reach her early 30s without actually doing anything with her life.

Inevitably, the two women encounter each other and clash quite energetically. And, in mid-clash, they are struck by a special effect which results in Liyla finding herself in Amelia’s body and vice-versa.

One of the strengths if science fiction as a genre is that it allows writers to explore hypothetical questions. In the case of Genetics, Pamela Sutch asks what would happen if someone who blames their failings on the hand life has dealt them is suddenly dealt an entirely different hand. Or, in this case, an entirely different body.

Both Lilya and Amelia find themselves confronted with a completely new set of challenges and opportunities and the film essentially stands back and allows us to watch how they respond. This character-based approach informs much of the film’s comedy as well.

Although there are several deliberately funny scenes, much of the humour is allowed to emerge naturally as the characters develop. This approach is, of course, helped immeasurably by the strength of both of the lead performances.

Both Molly Feigh and Pamela Sutch really bring their – and each others’ – characters to life and manage to make them sympathetic enough that we do start to care about what happens to them. By the end of the film these characters have become quite likeable, which is an especially impressive feat given that, as the film starts, they are a pretty unpleasant pair.

Genetics is a gently entertaining comedy with a serious point to make about the way in which we often take the comfortable route of seeking excuses – either by blaming others or insisting our faults are part of our nature - for our misfortune rather than facing up to the extent to which we are responsible.

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