Co-written by Marcus D. Spencer and Eduardo Castrillo and directed by Marcus D. Spencer, 'Who Needs It?' is a feature length comedy drama that stars Michael Grayson, Sherill Quinn, Felix Harry and Spencer himself.
Marcus D. Spencer plays Kieth D Real, a therapist who helps couples get to the root of their problems. When three different couples come to him for help, Real will find his hands full and as secrets are revealed and passions rekindled, will Real be able to help them as much as he wants them to?
'Who needs it?' approaches race in an interesting way and showcases three distinct ways how modern African American men approach cohabitation and love. From marrying into a Caucasian family, to marrying single mothers to financial issues; the film presents distinct problems facing African American couples and comes up with novel ways of handling these issues.
In the acting department, the star of the show is Spencer himself. Not only does he bring a charm and gravitas to the role, he is the linchpin on which the entire story rests. The rest of the cast, rounded out by Michael Grayson, Sherill Quinn, Felix Harry and others does a nice job of bringing their characters to life. The dialogue heavy script not only fleshes out the characters but also throws in realisations about relationships and life itself. This makes the entire endeavour worthwhile.
Spencer's direction is great as he brings his own co-written script to life in the most meaningful way imaginable. The story moves along at a potent pace as the narrative pacing and editing ensure that there is not a single dull moment in the entire film. In regards to the cinematography, the aerial shots at the start of the film set a nice tone for the story as the rest of the film mostly takes place in one single room.
Therefore, to conclude, 'Who Needs It?' is a light, funny comedy that will not only entertain you but also make you think about therapy and couples counselling. The characters are great, the wit is sharp and the feel good nature of the story works in more ways than one. Marcus D. Spencer's comedy drama ticks all the right boxes and is a perfect watch for a slow Saturday evening.
