Review of Funny Ha Ha (2003) by Todd J — 24 Jun 2007

Funny Haha: American independent filmmaker Andrew Bujalski's 16mm 2002 debut really rests itself in the real world. Perhaps too much so for certain viewers. I'm sure that half the people I know would really be put off my Bujalski's dialogue, which goes in circles and is filled with more "uhs," "I don't knows," and "wells" than most of us know in real life.

However, even the overblown attempts at making the dialogue natural end up seeming authentic. Perhaps Bujalski's success is because the viewer is so used to phony dialogue from Hollywood productions that this equally thought-out style seems authentic when it's a bit more jittery and maybe a bit more static than most 21st century conversation.

But like I said, somehow it ends up working along with Bujalski's directing style, which falls somewhere between composed, low budget, and off the hip. Although you'll certainly hear accusations that the film has not plot, well, it does.

Marnie is a post grad student who can't commit to anything. She works temp jobs and secretly worships Alex, another mid-20s guy that really isn't onto anything at all. She pretty much spends the movie going to parties, having awkward moments with guys, and never being content.

It's easy to see why people see no plot in this, and although I'm not going to resort to the cliche of saying that it's true to life and life has no plot and blahblahblah, I will say that I think that the movie has a lot going on between the wheels.

First of all, Marnie's tendencies to jump around from dull job to dull job emphasizes her complacent nature and her lack of commitment. Consciously or subconsciously, this tendency informs Marnie's entire character.

She behaves like a child, foolishly adoring a guy who may or may not still be seeing a long time girlfriend whose birth control is still in his room. But what's the alternative? That's the big question the flick has to ask, and that's how the seemingly meaningless title fits in with the piece as a whole.

It's a very ponderous film, and Bujalski's unique style and truly independent low budget filmmaking is unique and, overall, pretty well done. **** out've *****.