The Elephant in the Room
June 16th, 2026
MOVIE: THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
STARRING: ALYSSA LIMPERIS, SEAN KLEIER, DOMINIC BURGESS
DIRECTED BY: ERIK BORK
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 91 MINUTES
When we look at the history of cinema and consider how studios greenlight projects, it’s safe to assume there will be no shortage of political films about 2016 and the years that followed. We are getting a sequel to The Social Network, a film about January 6th, and what will likely be a wave of COVID-related movies. The Elephant in the Room, written and directed by Erik Bork, is the latest attempt to turn our political differences into a sweet romantic comedy. Making a successful movie out of that premise, however, is about as easy as getting Republicans and Democrats to agree on anything.
The year is 2021. Leah (Alyssa Limperis) is struggling after a recent breakup and reflecting on how she barely survived the pandemic. She lives with her roommate Martin (Dominic Burgess), a quiet man who keeps mostly to himself and tries to stay out of Leah’s affairs. In classic meet-cute fashion, Leah orders food delivery only to discover that her meal is completely wrong. Fortunately, the person at her door is Vincent (Sean Kleier), a chef at the restaurant who offers to make her dinner as an apology. The two exchange numbers, begin texting, and gradually develop a connection. There is only one problem: Vincent voted for Trump…twice.
As a concept, The Elephant in the Room has potential. A romantic romp, about two people on opposite sides of the political aisle, exploring whether love can overcome ideological differences, is an intriguing premise. Unfortunately, much like another recent film I reviewed, Lost with You, the idea only works if the filmmakers are willing to fully engage with it. Vincent comes across as a reluctant Trump supporter, while Leah repeatedly makes her points with little meaningful pushback. Rather than examining the conflict from both perspectives, the screenplay often sidesteps the harder conversations.
The larger issue is that Bork’s script treats serious subject matter as though it were the flavor-of-the-month obstacle to deal with. Putting two characters in a room to discuss politics may make for an inexpensive production, but it also risks trivializing issues that have profoundly affected people’s lives. Immigrants, marginalized communities, and families impacted by the policies and divisions of this era are unlikely to find much of this material charming or cute.
On the technical side, Limperis and Kleier deliver performances that often feel reminiscent of a Hallmark Christmas movie, with interactions that rarely come across as natural. Their chemistry exists largely because the screenplay insists that it does, not because it develops organically. The script also struggles with timeline inconsistencies. Leah seems certain that something terrible will happen at the January 6th rally, while Vincent appears fully aware that election-related court challenges will fail. These moments play less like believable character insight and more like hindsight disguised as foresight.
Meanwhile, Bork seems to have forgotten the “com” in rom-com. There is very little here that qualifies as funny, whether because the subject matter resists humor or because the jokes simply do not land. Either way, the film rarely finds the balance necessary to make its romantic-comedy framework succeed.
Sadly, The Elephant in the Room is not a convincing blueprint for how films should approach America’s political divide. Similar to what Jon Stewart attempted with the misguided Irresistible, it suggests that these issues can be neatly packaged into a lighthearted romance. The subject of race barely enters the conversation, and its omission feels remarkably naïve given the topics being discussed. By minimizing the seriousness of the cultural and political tensions at its center, the film undermines its own authenticity. Had Bork confronted these issues head-on, there might have been a stronger movie here. Instead, he spends most of the runtime sidestepping the very elephant in the room.
2 STARS
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS CURRENTLY STREAMING ON TUBI.
Written by: Leo Brady
