The idea of opposites, of two diametrically opposing, frictional forces creating a third, synergistic meaning, seems like the type of humor that excites writer and director Andrew Bujalski. His other most recent film, Computer Chess, became one of the most buzzed-about films to come out of Sundance 2013 for its unique blend of  diametrically opposed styles – ’80s home video docu-style shooting, and a more modern sense of paranoid and deadpan hilariousness, to create a genre-leaping indie nugget of a crowd-pleasing film.

In the case of his most recent film, Results, Bujalski playfully (and, like all his films, not too seriously) combines further opposing elements; this time, full-hearted gym trainers encounter a pudgy, recently divorced millionaire, who exposes, through them, a cultural obsession with fitness, and the expectation of success to come. The humor here comes from angling these overly-stimulated gym trainers, more attentive to their bodies than to their hearts, with the easy-come-easy-go, sometimes-drinking, sometimes-pot smoking, bachelor millionaire, who’s self-aware shortcomings expose the deeper shortcomings in “results-driven,” externally focused self-improvement.

Read our exclusive interview with Andrew Bujalski on Results.

Fans of Bujalski, and those who’ve only sat through a half-confusing watch of Chess, will see a carryover in style in this follow-up feature. While assuming a more “conventional” storyline here than in his past films, the experience is still akin to Cassavetes-style watching, of finding the natural humor in observed human interaction that reveals a more than cultural, human-based ineptness, in our desire to connect with each other. While not outright self-parody, the comedy feels ingrained in the DNA of this film, requiring a subtle eye to take in.

It’s slacker, laissez-faire attitude maintains refreshing returns throughout, resulting in a dialed in humor that Bujalski appears to only grow more comfortable with in each film.

Corrigan, as pot-bellied Danny, notes about finding the humor on a second read: “I read (the script) it again, and it occurred to me that it was a satire. I didn’t notice that on the first reading. When I expressed this to Andrew, he was reluctant to agree with me, that it was a satire, and I understood his hesitancy…”

Read our exclusive interview with Kevin Corrigan on Results.

Results is a relationship comedy, centering around three characters: the aforementioned Danny, Trevor (Guy Pearce), a fitness fanatic with eyes on expanding his gym, and Kat (Cobie Smulders), equally energetic and high-strung to the point of agitation over client’s half-workouts. When Danny half-signs up at “Power For Life,” Kat’s fervor to train Danny at his home visit – a mansion with but a flat screen TV and some vintage electric guitars – sparks an interest in Danny to court Kat, who, being the self-actualized drill sergeant she is, of course, shoots down.

This brings out Trevor, who sometimes sleeps with Kat, to force himself to realize deeper feelings for his long-time employee – this coming at a time when his gym is looking to hit the big time and go-commercial. A sprinkling of scenes of Danny’s fantasies, seeing an open lease space materializing with workout equipment right before his eyes, including a spiritual meditation center and juice bar, add even more welcomed relief to the film.

At 105 minutes, Results continuously trades off between progressing its conventional storyline, and tangential side steps, involving Danny Craiglist searching for someone to hook up his cable box, and another, humorous meeting and befriending with business lawyer Paul (Giovanni Ribisi), who is as good and welcome as ever in the small handful of scenes he’s in.

Results won’t provide huge payoffs in presenting big ideas, but it also doesn’t intend to. It’s slacker, laissez-faire attitude maintains refreshing returns throughout, resulting in a dialed in humor that Bujalski appears to only grow more comfortable within each film. As Danny’s laid-back self might say, and as Corrigan actually and humbly voices: “I’d say go into it with an open mind.”

Results is in theaters Friday.