Review of Dark Horse (2012) by Issac L — 26 Jul 2012

A KVIFF screening, my second Todd Solondzâ(TM)s film since HAPPINESS (1998, an 8/10), DARK HORSE is a pretty dark comedy, thoroughly enjoyable, but besides the bountiful gags, wisecracks and well-crafted comedy performances, the filmâ(TM)s nucleus is an out-and-out tragedy of an overweight loser, Abe (a niche for recent prospering nerd protagonist, over 30, living with his parents, working in his fatherâ(TM)s company, etc.), who is blindly optimistic to embrace his life, pursue his love and all eventually being shattered into pieces.

The film appeals to a more sensible crowd who is yearning a decent comedy without crude schlock, but Todd Solondzâ(TM)s understatement of the misery undertow has its energy accumulated along the storytelling, and delicately finesses the credibility between real world and Abeâ(TM)s illusionary world (with a scene-stealing Donna Murphy in her two-sided role in the two paralleled orbits, unassuming and loving in one and titillating and overweening in another, very much conforms to the comedic tone).

Leading man Jordan Gelber is a no-name, whose plump appearance and happy-go-lucky attitude is quintessentially familiar with anyone who are imbued with soap opera (from small screen) or slapstick (from a bigger screen) mad of U.S.A. A glum-faced Selma Blair is pitch-perfect in her weirdo-with-a-pretty-face disguise, under the premise that still she is way out of Abeâ(TM)s league. Veterans Christopher Walken and Mia Farrow are Abeâ(TM)s parents, stay true in their respectively satirical default, a stubborn father and an indulgent mother.

Although I have missed many Solondzâ(TM)s films between the 14-year-gap, but just compared with HAPPINESS, DARK HORSE is less ambitious and more friendly without many cinematic taboos (I barely remember the details of HAPPINESS, but nothing would erase the boyâ(TM)s sperm at the end of film out of my brain cells in these 14 years), meanwhile is equally funny and provocative, and which should have attracted a broader group of demography to enrol in Solondzâ(TM)s camp.