JoshRoessler Reviews

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

A Well-Marketed (but rather average, quality-wise) Movie

[5/10 · 13 June 2004]

I have a theory at how the creators of this movie decided to make this film, and it's really just that--a complete theory.

I think that someone saw Jon Heder and said to themselves, "That guy is instant comedy. He doesn't even have to do anything." And for certain scenes in this movie, they'd be right. A sequence where he breaks out his funky dance moves is hilarious, as is his very intonation, at times, and his physical acting. And there are bits of funny dialogue that he is given at different points in the movie as well.

This film also has some quite interesting, random and quirky characters besides Napoleon, and each of them has their moment to shine.

But really, that's what this movie is: moments. There is very little real plot or story arc. We don't really see the characters grow or change. Stuff happens to them and they react to it, that's basically it. There's no real overarching theme, either. I've seen it suggested that "awkwardness" is the thematic point of the movie, but that's ridiculous, and NOT a theme. It's akin to saying, "My theme is love." It means nothing.

So what are we left with? Moments. Some great comedic scenes here and there that don't really add up to anything more. It's rare that I've seen a movie try to be so self-consciously uncool, with the underlying message seeming to be, "See how not cool I am? Pretty cool, huh?" What's more disturbing is that people have bought into it so easily, so much so that many of the people in the crowd where I watched it seemed to be in love with the movie before it began. The simple fact of a movie being different does NOT make it good.

For me, this movie doesn't rate much better than a renter, and I think you'd be better served checking out Welcome to the Dollhouse, Rushmore, or even 80's John Hughes movies.

The Girl Next Door (2004)

Perfect, In Its Way

[9/10 · 22 March 2004]

Don't believe the naysayers. The Girl Next Door is a very good teen sex comedy/coming of age movie. It doesn't exactly transcend this, but so what--it isn't trying to.

I guess the closest movie comparison I can make to this is Risky Business, but--though I haven't seen that movie in years--I felt like there was a much stronger emotional core to this movie than Tom Cruise's first big break.

Emile Hirsch, as Matt, and Elisha Cuthbert, as Danielle, are both appealing leads in this film, both visually and emotionally. They come across as likable and real, not cardboard cutouts of the "bad girl" or the "overachiever" that we're used to seeing in movies of this sort. Those moments exist, but they're there for comedy as much as anything else. What really surprised me was that I could actually imagine these two people falling for each other ... though, I suppose I should say the surprise was more that I could see why Danielle might fall for Matt. As played here, he's a genuinely good guy who doesn't know amazing he really is. There's a quiet scene where he's explaining to Danielle how "we" raised money to bring a brilliant Cambodian student to study in America. She asks, "Who's we?", and when Matt answers that it was basically him, there's a shrug and a kind of sense that he sees it as no big deal--wouldn't anyone have raised the money to help? It's subtle and beautifully done.

The rest of the cast shines as well; there are no weak links. Tim Olyphant, as Danielle's producer, is at turns both cool and sleazy as hell, and both fit his character like a rhinestone glove. He has some hilarious moments here, and takes full advantage of them. Paul Dano, as Klitz, is probably given the least to do, but he plays the reluctant, geeky friend extremely well, and the scene where he finally cuts loose is priceless. James Remar does a good job of looking and acting like Hugh Hefner as he plays Tim Olyphant's old partner. And finally, Chris Marquette's Eli is a work of genius. He's The Girl Next Door's Jack Black, Jason Lee and Vince Vaughan (think Trent from Swingers) rolled into one and then reverse-aged to a high school student so that his presence doesn't seem completely out of place. His lines are some of the funniest and most outrageous in the movie, and he delivers them with spot-on accuracy.

Please don't dismiss this movie as simply another teen sex comedy. It's at least as funny as the American Pie movies (without having to resort to gross out humor as the linchpin of the movie), and it has ten times the heart and soul.

Garden State (2004)

Wonderful Effort From First Time Writer/Director Zack Braff

[10/10 · 24 February 2004]

I really loved this movie. I mean, really. So it surprised me to come here and find it rated so low.

By no means is this a perfect movie. It can be slow or awkward from time to time and there are one or two moments that just don't work. But. By and large I was really impressed.

It's a great little story with just the right balance of comedy and drama, full of quirky characters and interesting performances. Ian Holm demands attention, as always, and Natalie Portman's Sam, while offputting at first, definitely grew on me as she grew into a real character.

But the real story here is Zack Braff. It should surprise no one who has ever watched Scrubs that his performance keeps the movie together; or that he is able to create a jokey, distant, somewhat sarcastic character who also elicits real empathy from the audience and manages to emanate deep wounds. What amazes me is the work he has done here as a first time writer/director.

First off, there is an actual narrative here with meaning and relevance. Too often, the big Hollywood movies will have a plot that resolves itself, but means nothing; on the flip side, independent movies almost seem to disdain plot for mood and thematic concerns. Braff is able to weave both together--a difficult task for a young writer. The dialogue is witty, plot situations intelligent and creative, and overall the writing is just--good.

As for his directing, there are a few odd choices. I'm still not sure I like one scene the main characters are screaming into a deep ravine and the camera sweeps away into said ravine. It just tossed me out of the movie a bit. I'm also not completely sure what to make of the movie's ending, which I won't go into further except to say that I felt it almost changed the focus of the movie up to that point and made it about something else. However, there are moments of absolutely beauty as well, here. The entire scene where Sam and Andrew talk in his friend's pool has some great shots, and Braff's comedic flair and timing are evident in his directing style, which still manages to pull back for the more dramatic and poignant moments.

I urge you to see this movie. It's not a "big" movie. It was never meant to be. But I have little doubt that, once it finds an audience, it will be remembered for years to come. Sort of a modern day Graduate with a more hopeful outlook on life.