Twins, identify -- and terrible loss

 

   Can a sexual fling change lives, particularly if one partner overwhelms the other, implying a continued  intimacy that never materializes? You'll find an engaging answer to the question in Twinless, a smartly contrived and affecting comedy framed with some darker edges.

  First, the major contrivance: The story centers on Roman (Dylan O’Brien) and Dennis (James Sweeney), troubled men who meet at a support group for siblings mired in a particular form of grief; they’ve each lost a twin brother or sister. 

  As played by Sweeney, who also wrote and directed, Dennis seems to have well-honed coping mechanisms. Roman, on the other hand, is the straight brother of a dead gay sibling, the outgoing and socially adept Rocky.

   For reasons that quickly become apparent, Dennis becomes obsessed with Roman, a typical "bro" type, both in manner and attitude. But Roman's no bigot, although he's prone to violent outbursts, perhaps the only way he can express his anger.

  Based on shared experiences with grief, Roman and Dennis become friends. I can't say more about plot without revealing twists that should be discovered in a theater. I'll note, though, that the movie offers cleverly placed surprises and encourages reflection on the tangled relationship between twinship and identity.

    O’Brien gives a notable performance as Roman, and also plays Rocky in flashbacks that, in this case, elucidate both plot and character.

    An able supporting cast helps sharpen the film’s themes, often rescuing their characters from cliche. 

    Marcie (Aisling Franciosi), one of Dennis’ co-workers,  develops a romantic relationship with Roman. Franciosi grounds Marcie's sunbeam smile with timely applications of common sense.

     Lauren Graham's portrayal of Roman’s embittered, grief- stricken mother,  provides a welcome counterpoint to the movie’s youthful flavor. Portland settings — with additional scenes in Seattle — add up-to-date varnish.

     Though clearly motivated, I wondered whether Roman's violent outburst had been adequately explored, but “wondering’’ isn’t the same as giving up on the entire movie. For the most part, Twinless blends grief, identity issues, and loneliness into an engaging portrait of characters grappling with all of the above.