The new film “Egghead & Twinkie” is about teenagers, yet it’s a film that viewers of all ages can enjoy. It’s a road movie, a coming out story, and the tale of a deep friendship between a straight guy and the lesbian he harbors feelings for.
Sabrina Jie-A-Fa heads the cast as Vivian Harris, a young lesbian who goes by the name Twinkie because she’s “yellow on the outside and white on the inside.” She’s an Asian girl who has been adopted by white parents who refuse to believe her when she comes out to them. Egghead (Louis Tomeo) is Twinkie’s straight best friend. When he tries to kiss her at a movie she comes out to him as well. Egghead reluctantly accepts this.
Feeling a bit frustrated, Twinkie decides to take a few days off to drive to Texas to meet BD, her online crush. Twinkie tells Egghead that she wants to visit an animation studio in Dallas, and he agrees to accompany her. They steal Twinkie’s father’s car and drive off.
The bulk of the film follows them on the road, with Jie-A-Fie and Tomeo making for a delightful pair. They’re at once funny, nerdy and sweet. Tomeo beautifully plays Egghead’s feeling of disappointment when he finds out about BD, but he remains loyal to his friend. In the middle of the trip, Twinkie meets Jess (Asahi Hirano), a young bisexual Asian girl who works in a Chinese restaurant. The two girls bond, and it appears that there might be a romantic spark between them.
But Twinkie has to move on. She’s waited a long time to meet BD and she’s determined to see this through. When she arrives in Texas she goes to the club where BD is DJing, but she is unable to enter the club because she’s underage, so she contacts BD by phone. Her crush is less than happy to hear from her.
“Egghead and Twinkie” was produced on a micro-budget. According to the film’s website, it’s the first film to be successfully crowdfunded on TikTok. The film was shot over 45 days with many on the crew donating their time.
Sarah Kambe Holland, the writer/director, paints a precise portrait of a deep friendship and of a young woman who’s determined to live her authentic truth. Though “Egghead and Twinkie” is a teen lesbian’s story, its themes are universal. Younger viewers will relate to Twinkie and older viewers will get a sense of Deja Vu as they recall their own first crushes. The film will even appeal to gay men. Who doesn’t recall the anguish of their first crush?
“Egghead and Twinkie” is now streaming on a variety of platforms. It’s a shame that it bypassed theaters. This wonderful film deserves to be seen on the big screen. However you see it, you’ll be in for a great time with some unforgettable characters.
‘Egghead and Twinkie,’ 87 minutes, CanBeDone Films, streaming at Apple TV, You Tube, Google Play and Fandango.
https://eggheadandtwinkie.com/home
