Wil Hunter (James Maslow) wanted to be a painter in New York but instead, he ended up working for his Dad’s storage unit business with his brother, aspiring filmmaker Orrie (Jesse Pepe).  When Wil’s ex-girlfriend, Susan (Lillian Solange Beaudoin), arranges for Wil to have a tent at a local art show, it revives Wil’s dreams of making his living as an artist.  While Orrie films a documentary about what’s goes on behind-the-scenes at an art show, Wil gets to know fellow artists like Chief (Robert Wilson Seymone) and Vic (Jason Kypros).  He also falls in love with the owner of tent-next-door, Rachel (Ella Lentini).

Art Show Bingo is a sweet movie, a love story with an edge of authenticity.  I get the feeling that it was made by people who actually have experience with art fairs and “starving artist” shows because all of the little details feel true, like the customers who try to set their own prices, the kids who don’t often understand that are should be looked at but not touched, and the snooty judges who dislike everything they see.  I’ve been to enough amateur art fairs that I immediately recognized a lot of the situations and the characters in Art Show Bingo.  (After seeing this movie, I’m definitely going to be nicer the next time I go to one.)  Personally, I was not really that impressed by Wil’s paintings but art is often in the eye of beholder and his work did get better as the movie went on.  Orrie got on my nerves but I liked both Wil and Rachel and I really wanted to see them get together.

I liked Art Show Bingo a lot more than I thought I would.  It wasn’t perfect but it still left me smiling.