Watching this interesting, well-acted debut feature from writer-director Russell Brown, one begins to reason that what Nathan and Maggie have in common, besides desire, is a need for a partner who's not completely kind.

Race You to the Bottom has an ending that is rightly open yet thoroughly satisfying -- as is the entire film.

You want uncomfortable tales of love and woe, then Race You to the Bottom has what you're looking for. And if you believe love is a disease that is meant to send people to screaming, burning hell, then you'll have a laugh riot, a real knee slapper, like 1,000 fart jokes heard all at once.

While it does take place over a weekend spent touring Northern California's wine country, writer-director Russell Brown's feature debut isn't exactly a bicurious "Sideways." The characters are less interesting and even less likable, and the only pleasure we can take is in their emotional pain.

Although more than a little familiar in its road movie-style romantic banter and bickering, the film is easy to take for a number of reasons, including the witty and frequently caustic dialogue. Modest in its aspirations, "Race You" succeeds by not trying to do too much.

These people are so selfish and self-absorbed you may not want to spent even 72 minutes with them.

Self-consciously edgy and romantically limp.