Spring Break
Get attacked by 'Shark'
Movie has new take on romantic comedies
Scott Hansen
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Scene
Sometimes enjoying a typical Hollywood romantic comedy isn't a bad thing. But then again Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson appear to want to convince the world love is perfect, it happens to perfect people, and if conflict occurs it will swiftly be resolved.
It's a rarity that a film like "Eagle vs. Shark" comes along and tells it like it is. It essentially takes the standard set by the romantic comedies Hollywood swiftly punches out and is memorable by making it more character driven. It focuses on pointing out the reality of love for the common person, and is all the more better for it.
Loren Horsley plays Lily, a fast food cashier who spends her free time watching shark documentaries with her brother and pet cats. Her insecurities and shyness are established by the film's writer and director Taika Cohen from the start.From there the film shows Lily being hated by her co-workers. While on the clock, she passes the time by counting down the minutes until she can take the order of the man of her dreams, Jarrod. Played by Jemaine Clement from "Flight of the Conchords," Jarrod appears at her job the same time every day. One such day, Jarrod instructs Lily to give an invitation to a "dress as your favorite animal" costume party to one of her more attractive co-workers. However, the girl declines the invite, and Lily decides to attend the party in her place.
At the party, Lily attempts to make herself noticeable to Jarrod. She dresses up as his second favorite animal, a shark, which doesn't hurt.
Lily finds out Jarrod has been training to beat up his former high school nemesis, but unfortunately has no mode of transportation to get to where the bully now lives. Lily's brother Damon, played by Joel Tobeck, has a car and Lily offers its use to Jarrod on the condition that she can tag along.
The rest of the film focuses on this journey, and the hysterical moments that accompany it. The heart and soul of the movie is watching Lily and Jarrod as they interact like two regular human beings.
The dialogue in the film is as realistic as anything I have ever seen in a romantic comedy and the humor that accompanies the conversations stays consistent. The film vividly captures the awkwardness felt between two people when they are attracted to each other.
"Eagle vs. Shark" appears to want viewers to learn about accepting who they are and getting what they deserve. By taking a realistic look at love, showing its ups and downs, and accompanying it with a dry sense of humor, the movie is able to accomplish more than any Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson movie ever could.
It's a rarity that a film like "Eagle vs. Shark" comes along and tells it like it is. It essentially takes the standard set by the romantic comedies Hollywood swiftly punches out and is memorable by making it more character driven. It focuses on pointing out the reality of love for the common person, and is all the more better for it.
Loren Horsley plays Lily, a fast food cashier who spends her free time watching shark documentaries with her brother and pet cats. Her insecurities and shyness are established by the film's writer and director Taika Cohen from the start.From there the film shows Lily being hated by her co-workers. While on the clock, she passes the time by counting down the minutes until she can take the order of the man of her dreams, Jarrod. Played by Jemaine Clement from "Flight of the Conchords," Jarrod appears at her job the same time every day. One such day, Jarrod instructs Lily to give an invitation to a "dress as your favorite animal" costume party to one of her more attractive co-workers. However, the girl declines the invite, and Lily decides to attend the party in her place.
At the party, Lily attempts to make herself noticeable to Jarrod. She dresses up as his second favorite animal, a shark, which doesn't hurt.
Lily finds out Jarrod has been training to beat up his former high school nemesis, but unfortunately has no mode of transportation to get to where the bully now lives. Lily's brother Damon, played by Joel Tobeck, has a car and Lily offers its use to Jarrod on the condition that she can tag along.
The rest of the film focuses on this journey, and the hysterical moments that accompany it. The heart and soul of the movie is watching Lily and Jarrod as they interact like two regular human beings.
The dialogue in the film is as realistic as anything I have ever seen in a romantic comedy and the humor that accompanies the conversations stays consistent. The film vividly captures the awkwardness felt between two people when they are attracted to each other.
"Eagle vs. Shark" appears to want viewers to learn about accepting who they are and getting what they deserve. By taking a realistic look at love, showing its ups and downs, and accompanying it with a dry sense of humor, the movie is able to accomplish more than any Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson movie ever could.
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