The Art of Self-Defense
Dole Cannery Cinema
Pupule rating: 3.2 (out of 4)
This has been labeled a "dark comedy", but that's a bit misleading. Casey Davies (Jesse Eisenberg) is basically a mid-30s nerd who has never encountered his alpha male side. He is brutally attacked by a group of motorcycle-riding evil doers as he's walking to the store to get dog food for his beloved Daschund.
From there, the trigger is on and Casey soars, or falls, into a world of self-improvement (?) through karate. The generic signs (BAR at a bar) and labels (DOG FOOD for dog food) are part of the allure in this mesh of styles. This feels a bit like Wes Anderson in haiku dialogue form. It's not for everyone, but it certainly keeps the storyline simple. As in, there are no scenes with extras.
All the arrows point toward a pace that is too slow and content that is too boring, and yet I was absorbed into the world that Casey dives into. To be frank, the movie watcher sitting near me did leave around 15 minutes in. Not sure why.
This wasn't as gory as I expected, though there are a few scenes that are quite rough. Mostly, this is dorky, unsettling, nerdy, familiar, shocking. Critics had rated this overall an 86, while audience score had been 68. I can see why.
Overall, thumbs up. 'Nuff said.
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