Maddie's Secret

In Maddie’s Secret, essential alt-comedian cum director John Early plays the titular Maddie Ralph, a major foodie who works as a dishwasher at a trendy Los Angeles food content creation company. While her life seems picturesque — perfect hubby (Eric Rahill), wild lesbian bestie (Kate Berlant), and a cupboard full of women-owned ethically-sourced chili crisp to boot — she simultaneously conceals a dark past with a severe eating disorder. Knowing her history of self-harm conflicts with the perfect image she puts forth to her followers, she continues to hide her bulimic tendencies from friends and family, even when she begins to relapse. With stunning satire and a pitch-perfect read of the cultural room, Early’s debut is the announcement of a lively and inventive directorial voice.

Maddie’s Secret is a delicious magic trick. On one hand it provides a platform for some of the funniest comedians working today to execute side-splitting and sly commentary on internet “authenticity,” LA posers, influencer culture, and slightly scary homoerotic best friendships. On the other hand, Early manages to produce a deeply nuanced and horrifyingly realistic portrait of adult eating disorders, a matter more omnipresent than many realize. With perfectly ludicrous performances from Berlant, Vanessa Bayer, and Conner O’Malley, plus a marvellous ’80s-inspired score from Early’s musical collaborator Michael Hesslein, the film seamlessly bridges serious rhetoric with bold comedy chops.

As work stress mounts and Maddie continues to battle her demons, she considers an inpatient program, and must finally tackle the root cause and final boss of many people’s eating disorders: her mother (Kristen Johnston).

DOROTA LECH