If there's a way to make privileged, glammy young drug abusers sympathetic, this decidedly isn't it. Callous, cynical, narcissistic, not nearly as funny as they think they are, dangerously irresponsible and determinedly wasting everything they've been given in life, they're more like minor a-hole antagonists we might encounter in the story of someone actually relatable.

Putting them centre-stage makes for a very strange viewing experience. Was the writer doing a sort of self-portrait, imagining in his own druggy delirium that we'd fancy them as much as he does himself? Feels like it.

One can only hope that, if this was the case, with the movie done, it held up a reflection to him he finally couldn't ignore, partly just because and party because there is at least a little potential here. True, the story isn't really about much thematically and the primary motivation for the two leads to embark on solving a mystery rather than going to the cops is pathetically weak and could have been stronger, but what follows is fairly well constructed and, with slightly different characters engaged in these shenanigans, could even be amusing.

As someone who's spent some time in DC and its suburban Virginian environs, I also just enjoyed seeing the area on film. And, unlike some reviewers here, I really liked the low-budget indie look of the thing.

This is a curious little film. For all the boorishness, tomfoolery, and levity, a lot of the character and scene writing is understated and subdued. Music in the feature includes contributions from James Iha - a rather unexpected name to come across, especially in a very small-time, low-budget movie like this. Though there's a surprising amount of pure exposition - one-quarter of a feature less than 80 minutes long - the plot begins with surprising abruptness and somewhat inelegance. 'Lost holiday' seems like an odd mishmash of subtlety and overtness, serious events and parodic treatment, and other ill-fitting ideas and approaches. But for all that, it's also weirdly fascinating, and definitely entertaining.

It's a real joy to watch the cast embrace their roles with wild abandon, and that includes most of all star Kate Lyn Sheil and co-director Thomas Matthews, portraying Maggie and Henry respectively. The foremost duo, on whom the narrative is largely centered, are totally unprepared for and ignorant of the venture they arbitrarily undertake, and between their personalities, habits, adopted pretenses, enthusiasm, and amateurism, 'Lost holiday' quickly turns wonderfully funny in a way I didn't actually expect. Lyn Sheil and Matthews are outstanding, demonstrating peculiarly energetic range and nuance in inhabiting such oddballs, and the fun of the film is in no small part to their credit as actors.

The writing and direction is certainly a little disjointed when it comes to characters, scenes, and the narrative at large, with leaps in logic and time, and shortcuts from A to B. But that is wholly intentional, tending to be a reflection of the protagonists' disordered and childlike comportment. The trip down the rabbit hole is an experience at turns hilarious and dire, but excellent and absorbing at all points. For any appearance of indelicacy, the screenplay is genuinely sharp, smart, and clever in all regards. Honestly, in every sense, however it may first look, this is terrifically well made.

I truly didn't know what to expect when I began watching, and I'm glad for it. This is a strangely earnest, thoughtful farce, more carefully considered than I ever would have guessed, and far stronger in its craft. I'm not familiar with most anyone involved save for Lyn Sheil, though I will say too that of any performances I've seen from her to date, this is surely my favorite. Cast and crew alike have made an endearingly enjoyable, intelligent comedy mystery that far exceeds anything I could have imagined, and 'Lost holiday' is worth far more than the 77 minutes it takes to watch. Wherever you're able to check it out, this gets my eager recommendation!