SONG OF BACK AND NECK

Nice-guy Fred rarely gets through the day without falling to the ground with crippling back and neck pain. To top it off, Fred is not taken seriously by anyone, and a smarmy younger partner threatens his job of 25 years at his own father’s law firm. But, when the beautiful Regan comes in looking for a divorce lawyer, the two quickly form a bond, and she suggests he visit an acupuncturist—who discovers that Fred has a rather unique talent. As Fred finally begins to find relief for both his chronic pain and his persistent loneliness, he wonders if his problems are more psychological than physical.

The Office writer, producer, and actor Paul Lieberstein writes, directs, and stars in this pitch-perfect romantic comedy about long-term relationships and the emotional baggage everyone has a hard time confronting. Through a unique blend of mundane and fantastical interludes in Fred’s life, Lieberstein creates a compelling portrait of a man struggling to heal himself when the odds are perpetually stacked against him. With stellar supporting performances from Rosemarie DeWitt, Brian D’Arcy James, Robert Pine, Clark Duke, and a scene-stealing Paul Feig, this film offers an inventive parable about taking control of your destiny at any age.

—Karen Kemmerle