‘The Elephant in the Room’ is a new romantic comedy by writer/director Erik Bork centering on perky, thirty something Leah (an energetic Alyssa Limperis), who struggles with isolation issues during the pandemic circa 2021. Social distancing in a friends lush LA home, leah tries to stay connected with events going on in the outside world especially concerning her progressive politcal ideals but finds her only source of companionship in the home owner’s socially awkward and very shy son Martin (drolly played by English actor Dominic Burgess) who wants to connect only to his own laptop. Soon Leah’s luck changes for good when handsome (arent they always) and charming cook, Vincent (played by Sean Kleier) makes a special home delivery to her house and they strike up a brief, flirty moment. On a lonely Christmas night, Leah messages Vincent and sparks inevitably soon fly.

Things get complicated quickly when the very liberal Leah discovers her hunk actually voted for Trump-twice! Can the two put their differences aside for love and will there be a happy ending?? (I’ll let the viewer find out, wink wink). The film brings up the interesting theme of two people trying to find happiness in a world where social media pressure and red versus blue dominates but there is no edge to Bork’s script and it contrives to make Vincent a middle of the road conservative who seems more than happy to give up his soft ideals for a shot at getting Leah in bed. The climatic scene of Martin and Leach watching the January 6th resurection unfold online (with Vincent potentially getting involved in the violence) comes off flat and underwhelming and the film settles on a vanilla and happy ending.

In addition, the pandemic element of the film dates it (was it shot in 2021??) and the look and feel of the film is so bog standard Hallmark might seem downright cinematic in comparison. Bork seems conflicted about placing strong issues at the forefront but only in the guise of a safe comedy that struggles for laughs and even romance as the film seems mostly content to keep it PG in the sparks department. Limperis’ natural screen presence mixed with Burgess’ dry delivery make the film watchable at times but the main romance itself doesn’t get my up vote.

Stick to ‘You’ve Got Mail’ instead.

‘The Elephant in the Room’ is available to stream now on Tubi and Fawesome.

Funclub Unlimited Films, USA, 2005, 91 mins.