Although it will surely be compared to “Napoleon Dynamite” for its humor and low-budget cinematographic values (think of two dorky characters in flood pants standing in the middle of a suburban American desert-scape, then substitute said desert-scape for New Zealand), “Eagle vs. Shark” still stands apart for its harsh, yet sympathetic look at two characters who are deemed by the world to be losers.
Because in the opening sequence of the film, losers are exactly what Lily and Jarrod are set up to be. Lily is a cashier at a fast food restaurant whose life revolves around trying to blend in with her coworkers and failing miserably, strumming out songs on the guitar in the home she shares with her Arnold Schwarzenegger-impersonating brother, and, of course, fantasizing about an elusive male customer who comes into the restaurant for a combo meal every day at noon. The elusive male is Jarrod himself. And he is quite the prize as well, as a mullet-having video store clerk who talks down to everyone around him and is obsessed with getting revenge on an old high school bully.
In an all too realistic and probable fashion, the two end up getting together at an animal-themed party (Lily is a shark, Jarrod is an eagle). The sweet Lily falls hard for Jarrod, baking him cakes and putting up with his angry tantrums (think, here, of Napoleon Dynamite’s belting of “Gosh!” and you’ll have Jarrod’s whole character pegged.)
All goes well until the two make a road trip to Jarrod’s hometown, where he intensifies his “training” and obsesses over the upcoming battle between himself and his former nemesis. This is where the movie really picks up speed in both humor and heart, as the two main characters interact with Jarrod’s family- his jogging suit-hocking sister and brother-in-law, his grief-crippled dad, and his surprising 10-year-old daughter.
At this point, the random humor born of the awkwardness of self-conscious characters is mixed more thoroughly with truly tender moments and displays of human weakness and strength, the likes of which are rarely seen in “Napoleon Dynamite,” or many other movies, for that matter.
Lily and Jarrod’s young relationship is soon tested, and only survives when she is finally able to stand up on her own two feet and find in herself enough strength of character to carry the both of them. It sounds clichéd, but it isn’t. Cohen’s able screenplay and directing may poke fun at its “loser” characters, but it is never mean, and never hopeless. And as low as it may delve into the truth of people and relationships, it always ends on a high note.
“Eagle vs. Shark,” is hilarious and thoughtful; a movie that proves love isn’t only for the beautiful and confident, or for the damaged and broken. Sometimes love is for losers. And that can be a pretty good story, too.
Powered by AkoComment 2.0!
Entertainment
