Actors Carson Polish and Lacey Katena star in the new Vigloo vertical drama “The Summer I Fell for My Butler,” which was written and directed by George N. Koulouris.
The synopsis is: Ella (Lacey Katena) married for stability, not fireworks. But when her distant new husband abandons her at his family’s beach house on their wedding night, she finds herself drawn to Dylan (Carson Polish), the sweet, aimless surfer hired to play bartender and butler for the weekend.
As sparks grow between them, Ella is caught between her two best friends, each with motives of their own. With old secrets and new betrayals surfacing fast, Ella has to decide what she’s really fighting for: safety, love, or something messier in between.
Carson Polish is suave and charming as Dylan and he scenes every scene he is in. Carson has great chemistry with Lacey, who is wonderful as Ella (where he viewer can recall a young Mira Sorvino). Their affecting rapport allows for more resonance, and their relationship builds up in a raw, organic fashion that is both refreshing and infectious.
Blessed with leading man looks, with Carson as Dylan, the audience can recall Patrick Schwarzenegger meets Matt Cohen of “Supernatural” meets a young David Charvet of “Baywatch,” and that ought to be taken as a compliment.
Rob Touhey is a revelation as the unfaithful Leo, who states that he is going to Hong Kong for a business trip but instead, he is cheating on Ella with his mistress Naomi (played by an appealing Ashanti Harris), who is also a friend of Ella’s.
Hopefully, this is a harbinger that there will be more leading roles for Carson Polish and Lacey Katena in the future!
The Verdict
Overall, “The Summer I Fell for My Butler” is one wild and bumpy ride. The acting performances are memorable by the entire cast, and they do a solid job with the material that they have.
Compliments to filmmaker George N. Koulouris for his impressive direction. This vertical drama is feel-good escapism, and it garners four out of five stars.
