Rating of
3/4
The Best Hybrid of the Year
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/14/14
Who knew that having a podcast would lead Kevin Smith back down the directing road? Based on a random podcast based on a random "wanted" article (which, according to the movie trivia, was written as a prank directly aimed at Smith) - Smith decided to take a chance (and thank the lord Michael Parks went along with it) on this hybrid of Clerks-type-rapid-fire-humor mixed with the horror of Human Centipede. While the result isn't perfect, I enjoyed it much more than Smith's last attempt at horror, Red State, that I just couldn't get into.
Justin Long and Haley Joel Osment play a pair of podcast comedians who run the "Not-See Party" (the name of which provides plenty of fodder throughout the film). Long's Wallace Bryant character goes out into the world and describes his experiences with Osment's Teddy Craft, who hates flying and thus stays the course. They have carved out a nice little niche for themselves (based on Smith's actual podcast, FYI). They discover a video of a "Kill Bill" kid (who chops off his own leg while samurai fighting) and find it hilarious - so Long (and his impressive mustache) takes the trip to Canada to interview him. Ally Leon (Genesis Rodriguez) is the oft put-upon girlfriend who wants him to stay - their relationship - which started off quite pure and innocent, has become more jades of late. He has much more money and fame now - but it has caused the couple to drift apart. So much so that when he leave, she turns to Teddy for support (amongst other things). Seeing a sure thing, he leaves her behind once again.
Long story short - the interview falls through and he is forced to come up with something to fill the podcast. Thus, in a hole-in-the-wall bar he comes across a letter from a man with "stories to tell" in exchange for help with a few tasks around his house. He lives out in the middle of nowhere, but Bryant, intrigued, decides to give it a shot. After a quick run to a convenience store (that harkens back to Clerks) he gets directions and arrives at the house of one Howard Howe (Michael Parks). Parks absolutely kills in the role as an aged and world-weary ex-sailor. His exploits about D-Day and meeting Earnest Hemingway get Bryant excited - even if his salty language and current-gen tech are a bit much for the old man. But then he gets to exploits with being shipwrecked and his affinity for the walrus... and let's just say things take a dark turn from there.
To say anymore would be to ruin the rest of the film - let's just say Bryant is a changed man - one requiring rescue - and Johnny Depp plays an excellent (and quite unrecognizable) turn as a homicide detective on the hunt for a serial killer. He is a little more Inspector Clouseau than Sherlock Holmes, however, and some may find his role off-putting, but I though it was a nice turn for the actor. The film was shot in just 15 days on a $3 million budget. It is in turn hilarious, ridiculous, revolting and even heartfelt - and for Smith, I really feel it's a return to form after a string of somewhat disappointing films. It's supposedly a first in a planned trilogy - and even if it didn't burn up the box office, it has the makings of a cult classic written all over it.
Fans of Smith should check it out, fans of Human Centipede should check it out and fans of anything out of the ordinary should check it out. This is a movie that will divide people for sure (kind of a love it/hate it kind of response) but as far as I'm concerned, it's truly a wonder to behold - not to mention the fact it even got made in the first place. That's Smith for you.
