Hard Sell (2016) User Reviews (9)

And that is what this movie was for me - a hard sell

[cekadah · 6/10 · 4 August 2016]

Director/writer: Sean Nalaboff doesn't quite pull it all together in this flick and it was a hard sell to me. I wanted to like this movie but I found the characterization to be more uneven than consistent. Plus the story is told as episodes in Hardy Buchanan's life - examples - there is Hardy with his emotionally unstable mother, these is Hardy with the beautiful runaway Bo, there is Hardy at the preppy school showing off Bo, there is Hardy dealing with the administration after his money making scheme is uncovered.

All these bits a pieces just do not come together as a flowing story. (At least that is how the movie comes across to me) Then his mother is put into a mental institution and we never really know what her problem is. Bo comes across as too together to be a runaway. And the outdoors party scene was confusing as Hardy seems an outcast at school but OK at a party.

I couldn't go with the intent of a boy having to become an adult at his young age. This story, as it is, doesn't develop the soul Sean Nalaboff is so trying to project.

Doesn't Have the Heart it So Desperately Wants

[welcometoballbag · 6/10 · 21 May 2016]

In the film "Hard Sell", a high schooler is struggling with money. He helps out a stripper which eventually leads to them starting an almost borderline prostitution service for his fellow schoolmates.

The premise alone gives the impression that this film could have deep and interesting characters that the viewer wants to root for, but unfortunately, it doesn't reach that far. Watching the film, it seems that the writers just piled various life problems onto their characters, in hoping that we will feel sorry for them and connect with them, but it doesn't happen. The character of Hardy has many life problems: lack of money, mother with mental challenges and a dog that needs a $10,000 surgery. Yet under all that baggage, Hardy came across as an unlikeable asshole, and same goes for the stripper, Bo. The only time any character came across as likable is when two characters who have never danced before attempt to dance at a party.

This film is not bad, but is in no way a must see Indie.

a bit of this, a bit of that

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 14 November 2016]

Hardy Buchanan (Skyler Gisondo) is a loner attending a rich Long Island private school. He lives with his depressed mother Lorna (Kristin Chenoweth) in a small apartment. His aged dog needs surgery but he has no money. While volunteering at a homeless shelter, he meets Bo (Katrina Bowden) who claims to be a homeless stripper. He takes her in for the night. She reveals that she ran away from a mental hospital. She flashes a bunch of kids for $50 and Hardy has an idea to make money for his dog surgery. Lake (Hannah Marks) is a disenfranchised girl at the school who takes an interest in Hardy. Bo's appeal becomes more than flashing her boobs as she helps these kids' troubles. Meanwhile, her past is closing in on her.

There is a bit of Risky Business, high school romance, and some mental health issues. The characters are good. Bowden is a fine manic pixie dream girl. This is a fine indie for the most part. I can do without the preaching by Hardy in the climatic confrontation with the school authorities. I would have liked a more interesting ending for Bo. There are a bunch of little things that could have been better but it's a nice effort for Sean Nalaboff's debut full length film.

Adorable film that you must not take too serious to enjoy

[greko-10098 · 7/10 · 3 June 2016]

I truly enjoyed this movie. It's a shame this movie has an overall rating of just above a 5. It deserves better. The story is a bit quirky, but the characters and acting were just right. The casting for this was perfect in my opinion. This is a great movie to watch with your significant other. It's charming and made me smile, laugh and get teary-eyed throughout. This is a film that doesn't appear to take itself too seriously, which is something I appreciate at times. Sometimes I just want to watch a movie that has a decent story and stirs emotions, good or bad, and this movie does that very well. Reminds me a bit of The Fault in Our Stars, but nowhere near as depressing. It was also refreshing to see that the two main characters in the movie were close but not too close. It was so easy to assume at the start that they were both going to end up together much like most typical movie plots, but they didn't. That fact alone is why I give this movie extra points.The only thing I would have wanted to be different is the ending. I did not feel complete at the end. Take care!

Lie to me

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 19 November 2017]

Hardy (Skyler Gisondo) is a high school student caring for a slightly dysfunctional mother (Kristin Chenoweth) and an ailing dog. As he struggles awkwardly through school he meets Bo (Katrina Bowden) at a homeless shelter. Bo is a slightly crazy "shy" stripper who has people looking for her. The ideal person to take home and meet mom.

Bo meets Hardy's classmates in a moment reminiscent of the infamous "Milk Money" scene. Bo becomes the class psychologist etc.

This is an indie firm complete with the lone cheap guitar with an irritating neck squeak sound track. Sometimes they don't even play a tune, but just hang a note. The drama never comes to a boil. It is a story about being nice to each other and helping each other out which is a great lesson for teens, even if it falls on deaf ears. Slightly touching. Slightly funny.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity

No sale

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 7 May 2017]

It almost pains me to write a review saying that this film is mediocre because it did have a lot of potential. But there were elements in it that just didn't make sense.

Hard Sell could not sell me on how young Skyler Gisondo is able to afford attending what looks like a really posh prep school when he's living with a single agoraphobic mom played well by Kristen Chenoweth with a drinking problem.

Doing volunteer work at a homeless shelter Gisondo befriends a young runaway who says she's a stripper. Gisondo has a sick dog who probably should be put down, but he insists on raising money to save it. The surgery will cost $10,000.00 and there ain't no health insurance to cover it. Rather ridiculous on his part, I know having had to put down an 18 year old cat because it was his time.

Katina Bowden plays the 'stripper' who isn't all she claims to be in fact she's a lot more. Bowden and Gisondo go into some Risky type Business.

The characters were appealing i just wish they were attached to a more coherent story.

Hard sell is funny and touching

[markboucher1 · 8/10 · 23 May 2016]

I saw yesterday the movie Hard Sell.I like it a lot. I saw it because i'm a fan of Katrina Bowden, since i saw her in the movie, Tucker and Dale vs Evil.

The force of the movie, for me, is the script. We see a high school student with a crazy mother and he don't know what to do with her.We don't see often this kind of story.The student forms a friendship with a runaway and they're funny to see together!

We connect with all the principal characters. The acting is excellent. They are touching and funny and we believe they exist.

The movie was shot in Long Island, New York, and we see beautiful places.

So i highly recommend this movie. You have a good time watching it. *I hope my text makes sens. My first language is french.

Easy Sell

[alexvesterberg · 8/10 · 26 February 2017]

Hardy Buchanan (Skyler Gisondo) is a loner, struggling with taking care of his suffering & depressed mom Lorna Buchanan (Kristin Chenoweth) and their sick dog Walter.

While volunteering at a local homeless shelter, he meets Bo (Katrina Bowden) who claims to be a homeless stripper. They form a special kind of friendship, which includes creating an almost borderline prostitution service for his classmates at a rich Long Island private school. Which later turns into a 50$ per head talk session.

I actually quite enjoyed this movie, which made me smile, laugh and get teary-eyed. It's really a shame that this movie has a rating just above 5. It definitely deserves better. I can agree that the story was a little bit quirky, but the characters and the acting was just perfect! The casting was just perfect for this movie, in my opinion.

The only thing i did not like was the ending, i didn't feel complete watching that ending, i would had liked to see Hardy and Bo meeting one last time before the end. But hey, that's just me.

I'd recommend this movie for everyone, it stirs up many emotions, be it good or bad but i promise, it'll be worth your while.

This was my review for Hard Sell. Thank you and take care!

Touching drama comedy piece of life movie, i liked it.

[nouyrigatantoine · 9/10 · 31 January 2021]

I found the movie funny and touching, well interpreted and i've been easylly catched in. I enjoyed it, it's funny and sad at the last part.