SWISS ARMY MAN is going to be one of those movies that has no middle ground. People will either love it or hate it. There will be no “it was alright” and if there is, then that person is lying. I can see why there were walk outs when the film screened at Sundance. All I can say to those people is that they missed out. Yes, there is a lot of farting and poop in the beginning but the film itself addresses that everybody poops.
A man named Hank is stranded on a deserted island. Having given up of ever being rescued, he decides to hang himself. Feet on a cooler and noose around his neck Hank is ready to die, but all of a sudden in the distance he sees a body lying on the beach. Surprised by his new neighbor Hank's feet slip off the cooler and he starts to choke. Luckily the rope breaks (or does it) and Hank goes to investigate the body.
Much to Hank's disappointment, the body is dead. Decomposing had begun to set in and the washed up body has a comedic amount of high pressure gas. So much that Hank uses the body as a jet ski (It's at this moment where you have to decide if this is the movie for you or not). The body has enough fuel that the pair end up on a beach. To be honest I had to take a phone call during this part. When I returned to my seat I wasn't sure if it was the same island or what? Quickly I realized they were close to civilization.
Hank starts to realize hauling around a dead body is a hindrance. He decides to part ways, that is until the body supplies him with a fountain of water. And to top it off the body starts to speak. So begins the friendship of Hank and the body whose name is now Manny.
As the title of the film suggests, Manny can do many things. He can chop wood, light fires with his butt, shoot rocks, and many many more things. The other thing about Maney is that he becomes someone Hank can talk to. In a nutshell they talk about life. Hank has some issues that need sorting out and Manny becomes therapy in a manner of speaking.
A good chunk of their conversation is about a girl on a bus that Hank was afraid to talk to. It's strange and heartfelt how this dilemma is dealt with.
I can't spoil the ending but once Hank and Manny arrive at civilization, the film takes a turn. Yes, the whole “is Manny real” is kept ambiguous. But it's wonderful how the Daniels' handle the films final scenes. I laughed hysterically at the ending of the film but also found it touching.
I highly recommend SWISS ARMY MAN simply for the fact that it is a very creative film.
So far this summer movie season has been a drag. Besides CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR and THE NICE GUYS, my other favorite summer movies have been two art house films. Kinda cool!
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