Swiss Army Man (2016)

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Charming and brutal

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

I recently watched Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; both are unbelievably strange, even surreal (especially Mind), and both very well done and refined and entertaining. I won't say tonight's movie is more entertaining, but I will say it certainly is stranger. Harry Potter meets Brian Wilson-- we're somehow reviewing Swiss Army Man. If you watched the trailer, that gives you a good, brief overview of the absurdity that takes place. Paul Dano is stranded on an island and is about to commit suicide when a body washes ashore. It's a dead Daniel Radcliffe, but as soon as Dano returns to trying to hang himself, the weird starts happening. Perhaps it's just his imagination, more likely it's a hallucination from his starvation, but Radcliffe's body starts acting in only the ways the writers could think up while I assume certainly intoxicated. There's certainly a very juvenile aspect to his motorboat farts and regurgitated water, but enough is done to provide ample laughter that doesn't die down as much as I first assumed it would. Dano realizes he has a chance to get back to civilization with the multi-purpose titular Radcliffe body, and this is the thread to propel the story. But if all you get or all you assume you'll get from the movie is physical comedy with a simple story of trying to return from the wilderness, then you sir aren't looking deeply at all. As he returns back to life, Radcliffe is hilariously rude and ignorant because he doesn't remember society at all, so Dano begins teaching him. The topics of family, friends, girls, etc. is all light-hearted and fun, and it also provides the time to reflect on Dano and how he himself never totally fit in with society to begin with. It brings about a little more existential problems, and adds a couple threads to story. It's not the most developed and it doesn't have to be because that's not what the movie is. And anybody who has seen the film can and will agree with me that there's no way to say what exactly this movie is. Dano is charming, but the gold star goes to the derpy-smiling Daniel Radcliffe. His childish antics never loses wit and lust as he determinedly wants to learn the ways of society and how to be happy. It's surprisingly funny and endlessly charming, but it is also so incredibly strange and that is a huge reason why it never really went to mainstream theaters-- it just doesn't have that kind of audience. Really I think it's much more individual-based on who would like the film. I will end with the ending (no spoilers, don't worry). I've heard complaints about how it ends, and the more I have thought it through, the more I am willing to defend it. The movie ending any other way just wouldn't be fitting strangely enough. It's a jigsaw piece that doesn't match any puzzle, yet it fits in with this film. Truthfully, the only question this movie will have you asking at the end will be, "What did I just watch?" Take that as you may, whatever I watched, I actually enjoyed it. You can find this review and dozens of others at gillipediamoviereviews.blogspot.com

I'm so glad I finally watched this. What a wonderfully odd movie. Paul Dano & Daniel Radcliffe both give grade A top-notch performances. There's so much heart to this film, something I was rather shocked by. I found myself laughing out loud during several scenes at the comical, albeit crude absurdity of the situation and actions of Hank and Manny. Then, there were other scenes where I found myself almost holding back tears at the heartfelt conversations between them. There is a simple, yet relatable loneliness and sadness to Hanks character I think many people can relate to. While it may not be as deeply seeded as his, we've all gone through moments like that in our lives. Times of self-doubt, moments where we don't feel good enough, or attractive enough, or afraid we're going to make an idiot of ourselves for saying or doing the wrong thing. Daniel Radcliffe is fantastic as Manny. There's a childlike curiosity and wonder to his character as he tries to remember life. The same goes for the bluntness and honesty in his responses and questions. At the core, it's a story that says, sometimes we just need a friend to bring out the best in us and show us our lives are more than just what is on the surface. That it's who we are deep down in our beings that counts, that life is too short to not show others how much we care, or to not take chances because of our insecurities and fear. I think that's a beautiful thing when a film can make you feel those emotions and be entertaining at the same time. That's just what this beautifully weird little film managed to do for me. My Rating: 8/10

The best funniest movie i have ever seen. It is a must watch

Unlike other reviewers I did not look for any deep meaning behind the film. I just love how weird and original it is. You will not see another film like this again. Had me in stitches, wonder, and confusion. Excellent performance by Paul Dano.