Eagle Vs. Shark
Despite all appearances, the writer of this $1.5 million dollar (NZ; so $1,285,290 USD) film did not see Napoleon Dynamite until after making this movie. This begs the question: How universal is this odd sort of loser character? Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement’s character Jarrod is a passive, apathetic, self-centered insecure braggart, with little to recommend him beyond an artificially cultivated air of mystery. Lily (played by cowriters Loren Horsley) is a quiet, put-upon loser herself, infatuated beyond any reason with Jarrod and incomprehensibly kind to everyone she meets, despite how they treat her. To her delight, these wallflowery loners cross paths in a gently-paced quirkfest.
Writer/Director Taika Watiti modeled Jarrod after friends of his and what he described as the worst traits in men. Jarrod is dressed in every scene to make his body look as physically imbalanced ad awkward as possible. Clement is a demonstrably good actor when performing in his folk duo and puts his low-key, subtle skills to good use here, giving us a strong physical characterization when Jarrod is otherwise mum. Lily is sweetly lame herself, blanketing Horsley’s real-life hotness below a wide-eyed hunch of low self esteem.
It’s a lovely character study, full of whimsy and the same kind of oddball jerktitude of Napoleon Dynamite, but less abrasive. That’s the type where you can’t even be offended since it’s so clear any rudeness or cruelty on Jarrod’s part is a desperate sort of self-aggrandizement built from years of suffering in his family and his own naïve fantasies. Lily is kind and strong, strong in that she’s forgiving and truthful, even as she evinces “door mat” and gets herself stuck in terrible situations. Occasionally some stop-motion animation brings the subtext to life, rotten apple cores and other forgotten detritus finding a place of bliss. The side characters bring a lot to Jarrod and Lily’s characters as well, such as the vibe with Jarrod’s father and the predatory acceptance of Jarrod’s sister and brother-in-law. But it’s all about Lily and Jarrod.
If you didn’t much like Napoleon Dynamite (I didn’t), you may still enjoy this (I did), since the characters are less aggressively obnoxious and more accidentally horrible; they are also better justified in their behavior. If you loved Napoleon Dynamite, you will adore this, because it dispenses with the painful randomness and just focuses on the two solitary hunters from different environments circling each other, hoping for a connection, with enjoyably agonizing social awkwardness. It’s joyless, yet whimsical.
You should also be forewarned that if you have any trouble discerning an Australian accent, the New Zealand one will blow your mind. You might prefer to wait for the captions on the small screen, but if you dig the NZ patois, then run, don’t walk to your local art house for some ifficting dramah and saimple cormedih.
MPAA Rating R for language, some sexuality and brief animated violence.
Release date 7/6/07
Time in minutes 117
Director Taika Watiti
Studio Miramax Films
