ON THE COUNT OF THREE

Val and Kevin go about their day in all the ways one might want to spend their last day on earth. They have a good meal, go riding on dirt bikes, plot vengeance against those who wronged them and even try to make amends. Throughout the journey, both Val and Kevin reveal to the audience and themselves what’s led them to this point in their lives - and why, more importantly, do they feel that suicide is the best course of action. Films and literature will frequently shy away from making suicide a resolution to a problem, but as the premise of the film, it is front and centre as it unfortunately is for so many people in real life.

Triggers triggers everywhere, this is not a film for the faint of heart. Mental health and suicide is the obvious thematic protagonist, but racism, gun control, abuse and abortion all feature predominantly enough to prod the audience into thought, though probably not enough for them to stay etched in the mind post the film’s credits.

Somehow through it all, ‘On the Count of Three’ does its very best to make audiences laugh, but it’s careful in where it places the comedy. Gun control in America is an obvious thing to laugh about and is frequently the butt of the jokes, but Carmichael’s background in stand-up allows comedy to likewise shine through less obvious places, like depression and death.

‘On the Count of Three’ features great cameo appearances that audiences audibly approved of in the packed cinema. Henry Winkler (‘The French Dispatch’) is Kevin’s old paediatric psychiatrist, Tiffany Haddish (‘Girls Trip’) is Val’s partner, and J.B. Smoove (TV’s ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’) is his absent father. They all play vital roles in the pair’s last hurrah on Earth, and each approaches their role with the same daunting realism that hovers over the film.

It is very difficult to discuss this film without breaking down the ending and what it all means, with everything coming together in a final act that displays heart, tension and thrill. It is a testament to Carmichael and screenwriters Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch that ‘On the Count of Three’ is not just being applauded as a relevant and important picture, but that it has avoided severe backlash at all. They clearly understood the assignment, and approached the film with care and consideration.

To say audiences will have a good time may be a stretch, but I found it gripping and there are laughs to be had. The subject manner is clearly going to cause concern, so please be careful with the environment around how one absorbs the film. There are two sides to the coin, and while this is really a well-balanced in tragedy and comedy, there is no denying the haunting theme that can be triggering and devastatingly real.

If this review has raised issues for you or someone you know, you can get support from Lifeline at any time by visiting www.lifeline.org.au or calling 13 11 14.