In a World...
Roadside Attractions | Release Date: August 9, 2013
6.6
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 87 Ratings
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Mixed:
16
Negative:
12
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
8
ShaneryankellyAug 9, 2013
Using the oft overlooked world of voice-over as a backdrop, Bell has delivered a film that is an important social satire without the snobbish condescension which that designation may imply.

Read the full review here: http://bit.ly/17C0Gw1
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
LeZeeMay 3, 2014
A perfect little movie with the good cast and performances. Many experienced actors taking chances in direction field and most of them had tasted the success. Good story won't do everything, managing cast, crew and the locations are the keyA perfect little movie with the good cast and performances. Many experienced actors taking chances in direction field and most of them had tasted the success. Good story won't do everything, managing cast, crew and the locations are the key to bright best out of them. It was not a smash hit movie, but Lake Bell should be proud and happy for carving a movie like this in her first attempt as a director. She really did a wonderful job here in all the three departments, including as a writer and in a lead role.

Well, when it comes to the concept, it was simple as well good enough to entertain the audience. The movie was about the dubbing artists, especially who render their voice for the movie promos. As far I remember in those movies I had watched I never saw a story belong to people from this field, it was first. So that might a another reason the movie to cause interest in me.

The movie revolves the story of father-daughter relationship. A father who never stood for her and a daughter who fought hard to claim a better position in life. Apart from these two, subplots like romance and relationship between two sisters played a crucial role in the movie's main plot. Well materializes from the women's perspective and their issues in the world of men. A woman oriented movie that can deliver inspiration for many.

6.5/10… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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7
LynJan 29, 2014
Not a whole lot of plot here, but it's an enjoyable chick flick. I think of Lake Bell as a glamour girl-type actress, but she plays down the glamour here and inspires sympathy. Gave it an extra point just because it was so darned nice to seeNot a whole lot of plot here, but it's an enjoyable chick flick. I think of Lake Bell as a glamour girl-type actress, but she plays down the glamour here and inspires sympathy. Gave it an extra point just because it was so darned nice to see a film set "in a world" (the field of voice-overs) that was so refreshingly different from the usual lurid crimes, icky thrillers, "almost true" dramas, dumb comedies, and competitions to set the next new record in F-words.… Expand
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7
TVJerryAug 25, 2013
The voiceover business is largely a man's world, esp. for movie trailers. Lake Bell wrote/directed/stars as a woman who's trying to break in. It doesn't help that her father (Fred Melamed) is one of the leaders in the biz and unsupportive ofThe voiceover business is largely a man's world, esp. for movie trailers. Lake Bell wrote/directed/stars as a woman who's trying to break in. It doesn't help that her father (Fred Melamed) is one of the leaders in the biz and unsupportive of her efforts. Although the overall mood is upbeat, there aren't a lot of outright laffs. The cast in enjoyable and the energy never wanes. This inside look at show biz with a healthy dose of relationship challenges could almost be a Woody Allen satire. Not especially memorable, but fun.… Expand
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7
emkadvOct 24, 2013
I found the movie entertaining, even if the ending was a bit pat. The premise was interesting, it had some funny lines, and the acting was believable. The scene in the ladies' room between Geena Davis and Lake Bell near the end of the filmI found the movie entertaining, even if the ending was a bit pat. The premise was interesting, it had some funny lines, and the acting was believable. The scene in the ladies' room between Geena Davis and Lake Bell near the end of the film was worth the price of admission. And Eva Longoria's cameo was a hoot.… Expand
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8
ClariseSamuelsFeb 23, 2014
In terms of freshness, this entertaining comedy is unique. To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever explored the behind-the-scenes world of the voice-over artist. Many films have shown the trials and tribulations that thespians have toIn terms of freshness, this entertaining comedy is unique. To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever explored the behind-the-scenes world of the voice-over artist. Many films have shown the trials and tribulations that thespians have to bear when the camera is rolling, but rarely do we see what goes on inside the sound booth. Lake Bell is the director, screenplay writer, and star of this film. She is a gifted mimic who can do a number of authentic-sounding accents, and has apparently been experimenting and practicing since childhood. This film provides her with a perfect vehicle to showcase her prodigious talents.

The story focuses on a young voice actress (Bell), who is trying to make a name for herself in the male-dominated world of voice-over. Her own father (Fred Melamed) is a living voice-over legend, and although he patronizes his daughter and encourages her to continue with her activities as a voice coach, he is extremely critical of her talent and dismisses the idea that she can ever achieve the same stature as her father. The film opens with dad telling his 30-year-old daughter, who is still living at home, that his young mistress is moving in, and he would appreciate it if she moved out that evening. She can't afford her own place, so she packs up and moves in with her married sister (Michaela Watkins). She then begins the daunting task of competing with the best male voice-over artists in Hollywood, stealing jobs from under their noses, but her real challenge is when she has to compete against her own father.

The movie is inspired by the late Don LaFontaine, who, unknown to most moviegoers, is the most legendary voice-over artist who ever lived. He is famous for his melodious baritone voicing the introductory words, “In a world...,” a phrase that is said to be owned by his estate, although it is unclear how such a mundane phrase can be owned by anyone. In the invisible realm that exists within the sound booth, we see a world that parallels the more famous and familiar side of Hollywood. The voice artists have their own superstars, their own casting calls, their own awards ceremony—and, as depicted in the film, they even give out their own lifetime achievement award. It's a universe onto itself, and one that is largely hidden from the public.

Being a master of one's voice involves taking care of one's voice the way a ballerina would take care of her feet. The film shows voice actors doing exercises that are almost comical, such as putting a cork in one's mouth and repeating all the vowels. Bell's character, Carol, is an ambitious, nervous, and hyperactive young woman whose antics are highly amusing—every time she lands a job and makes progress with her career, she does a little dance of joy that involves twirling her hoodie in circles while she gyrates hilariously, sticking her rear end in and out in a manner that may well be inimitable. Bell's character has a real gripe with young women whose voices are misused to be seductively childlike, an accent that Bell has a problem with in real life as well. She calls it the “sexy baby squeak.” It must be a southern California thing, because I have never met a teenager or a grown woman who talks like that, although I have occasionally heard this accent in Hollywood comedies (and there is a demonstration of the baby squeak in the film). Bell has said in interviews that she strongly objects to this accent, which she calls a dialect, because it makes intelligent women sound stupid.

One has to admit that Bell's vocal tones are resonant and silvery, although you might ask why an intelligent performer such as she would make YouTube videos that show her prancing around in her underwear. Should she not be as concerned about looking stupid as she is about sounding stupid? Bell, however, pulls it off gracefully even though it's a shame that even the brilliant actresses have to show off their wares to attract the attention of [male] directors. [Revised 8/10/17]… Expand
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8
beingryanjudeSep 2, 2014
An incredible debut on several fronts for Lake Bell. A top notch comedy-drama that is both fresh and exciting. A few folks are sure to walk away from this one and pursue a career in voice-over work.
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7
SpangleMay 26, 2016
In a World is a pretty good film that is incredibly quirky and funny throughout, which is right up my alley. Lake Bell does a great job here pulling triple duty as actor, writer, and director. The rest of the cast is also quite good andIn a World is a pretty good film that is incredibly quirky and funny throughout, which is right up my alley. Lake Bell does a great job here pulling triple duty as actor, writer, and director. The rest of the cast is also quite good and really bring good emotion and depth to their characters and the film as a whole. The characters here are anything but one-dimensional and the film does a great job diving into their lives in a 90 minute run time. The only complaint here is that the film can be a little slight and, at times, the quirky humor can fail and things just turn awkward. However, when the jokes hit, they really hit and the film can be a truly smart and witty satire on the film industry and voice overs. Overall, In a World is good blend of comedy and drama that provides good characters, good writing, and smart humor.… Expand
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8
post-prufrockJan 24, 2014
Lake Bell's film is surely one of the most charming comedies to come around in recent memory. The writing is snappy, the performances are surprisingly nuanced (Bell, Demetri Martin, Michaela Watkins, Fred Melamed, and Robb Corddry should beLake Bell's film is surely one of the most charming comedies to come around in recent memory. The writing is snappy, the performances are surprisingly nuanced (Bell, Demetri Martin, Michaela Watkins, Fred Melamed, and Robb Corddry should be praised), and the premise is fresh. Most impressively, it manages to stay quirky and sharp without being overtly pretentious. It's an auspicious debut from an apparently very talented writer/directer/actress.… Expand
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10
andraJun 22, 2015
This movie is made for girls/women. Even though it shows the entertainment industry, specifically the voice-over, the way it's constructed easily portrays how challenging it is for women to enter any industry that was previously maleThis movie is made for girls/women. Even though it shows the entertainment industry, specifically the voice-over, the way it's constructed easily portrays how challenging it is for women to enter any industry that was previously male dominated. You can identify with the character and what she is "fighting" for. I really liked it. Lake Bell was amazing and she will be a force to be reckoned with if she keeps popping up movies like this.
And,....by the way, it is not the pseudo- feminist, obnoxious movie you expect to see, don't listen to the meninists, the movie is just plain good by any standards. It was refreshing, don't regret the time spent watching it.… Expand
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