'Souvenir' to Rock DWF:LA - Review
'Souvenir' world premiere at DWF:LA brings humor to the darkness on a memorable New York adventure.
Sometimes the best reason to watch a film is also the most personal. As a tween in the early 1990s, I had a crush on Janeane Garofalo. Seeing her name in the cast of Souvenir immediately put the film on my radar. Fortunately, writer-director David Ketterer Spencer’s dark comedy offers far more than nostalgia, delivering a witty, heartfelt and often surprising journey through New York City.
Making its world premiere Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 3 p.m. at Dances With Films: Los Angeles (DWF:LA) at the TCL Chinese Theatre, Souvenir follows Kevin (Eric Berryman) and Dani (Ruby Cruz), old friends whose chance reunion turns into an increasingly bizarre, at times intimate, odyssey after they discover the lost wallet of a deceased self-help guru Fidias Sipko (Laith Nakli). Their quest to return it sends them through a maze of eccentric characters, family disputes, questionable poetry and unexpected revelations.
Spencer demonstrates a command of tone, balancing dark comedy with genuine emotional depth. The screenplay understands that life’s biggest crossroads often arrive disguised as absurd inconveniences. As Kevin and Dani navigate a day that grows stranger by the moment, they are forced to confront lingering feelings, unresolved regrets and uncertain futures.
Berryman and Cruz share an easy chemistry that grounds the film’s increasingly eccentric situations. Their performances feel authentic and lived-in, giving emotional weight to a story that could have easily drifted into whimsy for whimsy’s sake.
Garofalo is a welcome presence as Cordelia, bringing her trademark intelligence and understated humor to the role. While seeing her name drew me to the film, she quickly proves to be much more than a nostalgic selling point.
Some of the biggest laughs belong to Laith Nakli as Fidias Sipko. Nakli consistently steals scenes with his deadpan timing and a knack for finding comedy in even the most offbeat moments. His performance injects an extra dose of unpredictability into a film already overflowing with eccentric energy.
What makes Souvenir effective is Spencer’s willingness to embrace both the ridiculous and the sincere. The film never loses sight of its characters beneath its quirky exterior. Every strange encounter and awkward detour ultimately serves a larger emotional purpose.
At a time when many comedies rely on familiar formulas, Souvenir feels refreshingly original. It is funny, thoughtful and filled with memorable performances that linger long after the credits roll.
Souvenir comes to Dances With Films: Los Angeles TCL Chinese Theatre on Sunday, 28, 2026 at 3 p.m. PT.
TCL Chinese Theatre is located at:
6925 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
3.75 out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐¾