Swiss Army Man

Year: 2016
Genre: Comedy
Directed: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Stars: Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Antonia Ribero, Timothy Eulich, Richard Gross, Marika Casteel, Andy Hull, Aaron Marshall, Shane Carruth
Production: Cold Iron Pictures

Um, huh. I, umm huh. This may be one of the hardest reviews I will ever have to write. There's nothing that can be said about Swiss Army Man that hasn't already been said. Is it the long-lost, constantly flatulent cousin of Weekend at Bernie's (1989)? Yes. Is it a demented and contrived film that revels defiantly in its own quirkiness? Check. Is the film bizarre, ludicrous and stupifyingly unique? You betcha. Yet despite its polarizing Sundance premiere and it having been unfortunately dubbed " the farting corpse", there's no denying that Swiss Army Man is an emotional roller coaster and splendidly original sight to behold.

Seriously, Swiss Army Man may have a one-up on this movie

The film begins with the desperate Hank (Dano) standing on a small island somewhere in the north Pacific. What we can cobble together from context clues, Hank seems to have survived there for quite some time. He sports a scruffy beard, stands atop a cooler and is about ready to end it all. In enters Manny (Radcliffe) a blue suit sporting dead body who washed up on the shores of Hank's deserted island. Hank tries to resuscitate him but all he can conjure is a curious and consistent case of bad gas. Seeing Manny as a source for salvation, the unlikely duo try to find civilization in one of the most surreal journeys to be dedicated to the screen since El Topo (1970).

"And we're off on the road to-o Portland"

The relationship between Hank and Manny sits as a surprisingly earnest friendship that rivals some of the classic double acts (think Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis), right down to the inclusion of song. They bond over childlike ruminations of how and what things are in the real world, while arguing the validity of Hanks repressed memories and fantasies. Manny's appearance in Hank's life is quite lifesaving in more ways than one, offering a fools perspective on Hank's predicament. This is in addition to all the things Manny does in the trailer, i.e. shooting projectiles from his mouth, cutting wood with karate chop action and farting through the water like a foul-smelling jet ski.

What really sets the film apart is its ability to break down its themes in creative, new and occasionally frustrating ways. Just when you think you know where Swiss Army Man is going, it pulls the rug out from under you. The movie melts into a hallucinogenic hipster inspired fever dream. One minute our protagonist is fighting for his survival, the next moment there are Michel Gondry-esque fantasy sequences that emphasize tactility over whimsy.

Likewise the humor interjects itself in unexpected moments often undercutting some of the film's gravest moments. While in any other movie, this kind of glibness would crimp the narrative, with Swiss Army Man it not only enhances the film's themes but proves a check on the film's more intellectually preening sensibilities. The emotional and the intellectual build off each other in this film like a game of slap hands. Ultimately however, the film settles on an impressionistic tone that channels Terrence Malick through conduits as unlikely as the Farrelly Brothers.

The film then diverges into psychological drama before letting the audience decide what the hell happened. Where you fall on the ending feels almost like a litmus test. Do you stare at the existential void and shudder? Could Manny be a symbol of faith? Is a victory in your mind still a victory? How do you treat people? How should you treat people? Your answers to these questions should inform how you view the film and help you decide if the ending resembles the midriff of Badlands (1973) or the end of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). I myself am still thinking about it; beaming, slightly teary-eyed and more than a little gassy while doing so.

Final Grade: A-