Many remember him as Ryan Reynold’s best friend in Green Lantern (2011), but believe it or
not, Taika Waititi has an incredible track record not as an actor but as a
screenwriter and filmmaker. Starting his career making short films (one of them
earning him an Oscar nod), this native New
Zealander made his feature length debut with the romantic comedy Eagle vs Shark.
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| Lily |
Premiering on June 15, 2007, Lily (Loren Horsely) is a good-hearted
but timid person who's lost her job, and seen as a weirdo
by everyone. She has Damon (Joel Tobeck), her supportive brother but yearns for that special someone in her
life. The answer comes in the form of a geeky fellow named Jarrod (Jermaine Clement). The sparks don’t fly on first
glance but that change’s when she proves to be a master with a video game controller.
They hit it off great until the day arrives for Jarrod to return to his hometown
and settle an old feud with a former high school bully. Lily tags along to meet
his dysfunctional family along with the cul-de-sac, as the days counts down to the day of the fight.
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| Dangerous Person vs Eagle Lord |
Similar to
Napoleon
Dynamite, the characters are socially awkward that you either feel sorry for them or can't stand their hissy attitude. Lily is the more sympathetic character; she strives to be optimistic even when the rest of the world shuns her. The same can't be said for Jarrod. He’s a guy who is trying too hard in
life; he lies, hurts Lily’s feelings on more than on occasion, and goes to
extreme lengths to impress his family particularly his dad (Brain Sergent) still
grieving the loss of his favorite son and Jarrod’s brother Oscar.
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| Director cameo by Waititi as Jarrod's deceased brother Oscar. |
And yet she still wants to be with him. What does she see in him that the no else does? It’s a question that even puzzles Jarrod when all is said and done. It bring's to mind the relationship in
Punch-Drunk Love, beyond the flaws the guy might have, she see's something that perhaps he doesn't know about. Underneath these awkward and even uncomfortable moments, some played for laughs, there is a layer of sadness and pain buried beneath these characters. A sense of trying to see the good in a person when you get to know them and bringing them out of that pit despair one is living in. There's enough whimsiness that would think that this was done by Wes Anderson.(Not that it's a bad thing) From the underlying themes, the cinematography showing the beautiful side of New Zealand, and quirky characters. There is even a stop-motion segment played throughout the film that matches the tone of the film perfectly. The music is also very ear-warming courtesy of pop band The Phoenix Foundation.
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| A moment by the beautiful seaside |
Horlsey and Clement work well off each other and carry the film remarkably well along with the rest of the cast including Rachel House who plays Jarrod's sister Nancy marking the first collaboration with Waititi. Other witty moments include some pop-cultural humor including Jarrod missing the new X-Men film (no loss, it being
X-Men: The Last Stand), the Fight Man game that Lily plays is a funny
Mortal Kombat look-alike, Damon's less-than-impressive impressions of James Bond and Arnold Schwarzenegger and an homage
The Graduate. The movie does stumble in the third act with Jarrod's fight. I get what it was going for but proved to be a bit underwhelming. Nevertheless, Waititi makes his mark with a modest motion picture.
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| "I'm a loser aren't I" |
It bears saying, so pardon for the repetition. Eagle vs. Shark; a sweet romantic comedy in the style of Napoleon Dynamite and as if it were crafted by Wes Anderson with many elements that seem straight out of a fairy tale but somehow feels authentic and real from the dysfunctional and to the heart.
Behind-the-scenes:
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| Horsley, Waititi and Clements |
Final Verdict: A-
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| Theatrical Poster |
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