Review of Eagle vs Shark (2007) by Cornelius P — 31 Aug 2013

A funny New Zealand romantic comedy directed by Taika Waititi waited 6 years to be seen by me! What a shame I didn't have a chance to see it in a cinema. But even on a small screen this film financed by the New Zealand Film Commission which had its world premiere at Sundance in the World Cinema Dramatic section of the festival , was impressive to watch. And to listen as well because the soundtrack features New Zealand artists The Phoenix Foundation, Age Pryor, The Reduction Agents, and Tessa Rain, along with M. Ward, Devendra Banhart and British group The Stone Roses.

The story of two (or more) nerds was put together so well, that sometimes I wanted to become a nerd myself... Lily (Loren Horsley), a shy, wistful girl, is a songwriter when no one is listening. She got a job at a local fast food restaurant and has a crush on of the customers - Jarrod (Jemaine Clement), a geek who works in a video game store. Jarrod doesn't even notice her nd he has his eyes glued to Lily's workmate, Jenny. With Jenny not at work one day, Jarrod gives Lily an invitation to his "dress as your favourite animal" party to pass along to her, but Jenny crumples it up and throws it away upon receiving it. Lily retrieves it from the trash... and things start happening!

The film's script was a result of the Sundance Film Festival Director's and Screenwriter's Labs workshops in June 2005. The film was shot entirely in New Zealand, in and around Wellington and Porirua, during 25 days in October and November 2005 with a crew of 35 workers. One of the things I really liked in this movie were the segments done in stop motion - utilizing both props and actors.

Most of the critics in their reviews were comparing this film with Napoleon Dynamite but to me this New Zealand creation had its own distinctive style mainly due to above mentioned animated segments and the emotional honesty. partialy thanks to whimsical little interludes of animation, but mainly because it ties blithe absurdity to a rock bed of emotional truth.