Jesse Eisenberg's new comedy The Debut premiered to a rapturous reception at the Telluride Film Festival, with Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti delivering standout comic performances in the writer-director's third feature. The film, set in the world of amateur community theatre, drew sustained applause during its premiere screening and is being praised as a rare, genuinely funny big-screen comedy; A24 is set to release it in cinemas this December.

The story follows Mona (Moore), an overlooked New Jersey housewife who impulsively auditions for a local production of a musical called Nosy Neighbours despite having no acting experience. After the intended lead performer drops out, gruff director Jerry (Giamatti) reluctantly casts Mona, who then discovers an unexpected, increasingly intense passion for performing, in scenes the review likens to comedies such as Waiting for Guffman and Tootsie. Eisenberg also appears in a small role, and the film mixes broad farce with sweeter, more poignant moments, reportedly earning an R rating for one particularly outrageous improvised scene.