Watch Status Pending

Status Pending is a 2018 indie drama-comedy film from debut writer-director Ben Zolno. The film had its world premiere at the Heartland International Film Festival on October 12, 2018, followed by its digital release on May 7, 2019. The story revolves around the character of Maree (Ivana Palezevic), a young New Zealand woman who works at a call center and has recently ended her long-term relationship. Her best friend Lysa (Harriet Prebble) convinces her to try online dating to break out of her shell and start experiencing new things in life.

Maree creates an online dating profile and meets a seemingly nice and charming guy named Will (Ben Zolno). They hit it off and start seeing each other regularly. However, things become complicated when Maree discovers that Will has a girlfriend, and she has to make a decision about whether to continue seeing him or not.

Meanwhile, Lysa is dealing with her own relationship issues, as she struggles to maintain a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend. Maree and Lysa also have a strained relationship with their neighbor Gerard (Jared Tito), a strange and eccentric man who has a habit of spying on them and hoarding garbage in his apartment.

Throughout the film, Maree, Lysa, and Will all face different challenges and dilemmas, and their stories intersect and overlap in unexpected ways. The film is a realistic and humorous exploration of love, relationships, and growing up in the digital age.

One of the standout aspects of Status Pending is the way it handles its themes of online dating and modern technology. The film is set in Auckland, New Zealand, and Zolno effectively captures the look and feel of the city, as well as the way technology has become deeply ingrained in people's lives.

The film features several scenes in which characters use dating apps and social media, and Zolno successfully captures the awkwardness and anxiety that can arise from these situations. The film also highlights the way technology can both connect and isolate people, which is a theme that becomes increasingly relevant as the world becomes more digitally connected.

Another standout aspect of the film is its writing and character development. Zolno's script is witty, insightful, and honest, with well-drawn characters and realistic dialogue. Palezevic, in particular, delivers an impressive performance as Maree, conveying a range of emotions and vulnerabilities with subtlety and nuance.

Prebble and Zolno also deliver strong performances, and the chemistry between the three leads is palpable. Tito is also a standout as Gerard, bringing a sense of both humor and pathos to a character who could have easily become a caricature.

Overall, Status Pending is a charming and engaging film that explores modern love and relationships with humor and authenticity. It's an impressive debut feature from writer-director Ben Zolno, and one that's well worth checking out for anyone who enjoys indie cinema.

Status Pending is a 2018 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.0.