Jim Gaffigan churns out of his best performances in the feature film debut of Colin West.

Cameron Edwin had it all. He was the host of a children’s science show and had a great relationship with his wife Erin and daughter Nora. However, the show has begun to go through a decline in ratings and he is at risk of losing his job. One day, he finds a car crashing down on his street and he finds the driver of the car hurt. Shortly after, Cameron has learned he lost his job and a replacement has been found in Kent Armstrong, the driver of the car who is now his next-door neighbor. However, with his lows, a new high arrives that he never imagined.

Cameron finds a satellite in his backyard, and he finds himself shocked at first, but soon enough with the support of Kent’s teen son Marc, decides to take the pieces of the satellite and build a rocket. As Cameron begins to build a rocket, he finds his relationship with Erin and Nora deteriorate. For Nora, she becomes close to Marc but gets into serious trouble when she finally stands up to bully Darla. Erin is even offered a new job. However, Cameron soon realizes that things are slowly evolving into something he never imagined.

This is quite a very interesting film and meant in a good way. The story of a children’s show host who tries to live his childhood dream after losing his job and how it affects the various relationships around him is intriguing. Especially when you have a comic star like Jim Gaffigan pulling off a dual role as both the show host and his next-door neighbor, who becomes his replacement. However, it’s not a case of identical twins as Armstrong sports dark hair and a moustache.

Gaffigan is great to watch as someone who was once at the top of his game but seems to be in a bit of a midlife crisis when he loses his job as a children’s show host of a science show. Gaffigan gets to showcase a cynical side to him as Cameron and yet, when we see him as Kent, seems to be a sterner and more stone-faced. Rhea Seeborn is excellent as Cameron’s wife Erin, who wants to support her husband but is offered a job when he loses his. We see her shocked when she discovers him finding the satellite and his intentions to build a rocket.

Katelyn Nacon is great as Nora, Cameron and Erin’s daughter who seems to be self-conflicted until she finds herself bonding with next-door neighbor Marc, played by Gabriel Rush. A great subplot is their relationship, which starts out as friends but slowly evolves into something more. This comes when especially when Nora beats up a bully, Darla, played by West Duchovny, and both she and Cam end up getting suspended. There are also some small and yet impactful roles by Michael Ian Black as Cameron’s boss and Tony Shalhoub as Cameron’s therapist. On top of that, we see Marc getting along with Cameron as well as Cameron connects with an elderly man who seems to be in hospice. These relationships all come to a head in a finale that is definitely a must see.

Linoleum is a great indie film driven by an amazing performance by Jim Gaffigan in dual roles but some excellent performances from the supporting cast. If there is going to be a sleeper hit of 2023, it could and should be Linoleum.

WFG RATING: A+

Shout! Studios presents a Brain Scratch Productions in association with Sub_Sequential Pictures. Director: Colin West. Producers: Chadd Harbold, Dennis Masel, and Chad Simpson. Writer: Colin West. Cinematography: Ed Wu. Editing: Keara Burton.

Cast: Jim Gaffigan, Rhea Seeborn, Katelyn Nacon, Gabriel Rush, Michael Ian Black, Tony Shalhoub, Amy Hargreaves, Roger Hendricks Simon, Elisabeth Henry, West Duchovny.

The film will be released in theaters on February 24.