She returns to Audrey's duplex only to meet Audrey's next door neighbor and tenant, Basel (Jake Johnson), who she immediately takes a liking to, but apparently Audrey always had the opposite reaction. As Laurel begins to figure out the details of Audrey's life, using her post-traumatic amnesia as an excuse, she realizes her sister really didn't have it all together, as everyone always thought. Soon, Laurel/Audrey starts to discover who she is, not just wearing the façade of Audrey but what she, herself, is all about. As time goes on and it looks like she just might have this "life" thing figured out, she makes a mistake that could change everything, but in doing so could give her a chance to experience life as the new Laurel.
While the concept of The Pretty One may seem a bit twisted, it's not like that when you are watching the film. Nothing Laurel does is intentional. More so, things just happen to her and she lets them, that is, until she discovers her own strength after walking in Audrey's shoes, quite literally. I loved watching Laurel's transformation and the relationship between Basel and Laurel/Audrey develop; the pair have amazing chemistry. Jake Johnson is adorable and endearing, while Zoe Kazan is simply fantastic. Seeing her play two opposite roles and so flawlessly gives me great respect for this young actress. I expected The Pretty One to be dark and comedic, yet what I got instead was a quirky, sweet, funny and utterly adorable film about a young girl discovering who she is, while recovering from the death of her closest friend and twin. While The Pretty One definitely has an indie feel to it, it's a great film. I'm not always the biggest fan of indie movies, but I loved the way this one was shot and cut. There is only one special feature and that is a two minute featurette on the visual effects. Basically, you see how Kazan played opposite herself in the shots where the twins shared the screen, and also the CG car accident. All of the cast is fantastic, from Ron Livingston as Audrey's lover, to John Carroll Lynch as their father, to Audrey's best friend Claudia (Frankie Shaw) and everyone in between. The Pretty One is a thoroughly charming film, so enjoy it on a night where you just want to see something that makes you smile.
