Review of Choke (2008) by Melissa A — 16 Apr 2010

Leading a double life is nothing new for Victor. Heâ??s a historical theme park worker but also a self-proclaimed con artist and sex addict. In order to pay the high hospital bills of his mother Ida, who suffers from Alzheimers, heâ??ll do whatever it takes. He is the best around, pretending to choke in restaurants where affluent customers feel an obligation to save him. With his inability to form emotional attachments, Idaâ??s doctor believes she has the answers. As their relationship begins to intensify, Victorâ??s mother is ready to tell him who his real father is. Having what seemed like a permanent gap never knowing about his childhood, Victor is faced with coming to terms on whether he can handle the missing pieces.

The one thing that interested me most about seeing Choke was the fact that it was from Chuck Palahniuk who wrote Fight Club, a movie that was strange but had a way where you didnâ??t want to stop watching. Choke, on the other hand, although I liked the story, it didnâ??t translate on screen very well for me. The flashbacks with Victor and his mother were the only parts that seemed to have some substance as it showed the gradual breakdown of any sense of normalcy that Victor could have in his life. I also liked the pseudo-choking moments. There was some nicely twisted humour in spots and the rawness of Victorâ??s character as a sex addict was believable, but the movie as a whole didnâ??t live up to its potential.