Review of A Lobster Tale (2006) by Benjamin F — 04 Sep 2008

A decent enough little film with nice small town Maine cinematography and a folksy soundtrack. There's some definite talent in major roles, between Colm Meaney, Alberta Watson, and Graham Greene. But the story is stretched far too thin - you could drink yourself to death if you took a shot every time someone in the movie said "moss.

" And the premise of the film, focusing on magical moss that heals wounds and general health problems, is every bit as cheesy as you'd expect - as is the family drama beneath that. Content like a few nasty wounds and impotence humor - including old man ass and blatant implication of the same old man rather epically getting a piece in one scene keep it from really being the family film you'd expect with its premise, and it makes it feel overall like a film that might've worked better in Europe - perhaps as an Irish tale by filmmakers there.

It has enough of a feel of trying to be that sort of film anyway, and reminds a bit of Diggers, with its focus on New England fishermen, but it doesn't have nearly as much depth or substance. Overall, it's pleasant enough to warrant a single viewing, but if you pass on it, frankly, you aren't missing too much either.

Meaney, Watson, and Greene are generally the best reasons to give it a look.