Review of Palindromes (2005) by James M — 04 Jun 2012

Palindromes is my least favorite film by Solondz. While oftentimes still uncomfortably funny, the film deals with the usual, scabrous Solondz tones of upper-middle class without the same incisive and instructive undertones of his more celebrated films. The humor still picks apart the American suburban family, but in a more capricious, whimsical fashion that isn't as deliberate or monolithic.

I still thought it was a blast and almost as awkwardly self reflexive as Happiness and Welcome to the Dollhouse (I loved how he ties this film into the story of Welcome to the Dollhouse; it's basically a sequel). Anyone who enjoys Solondz is going to appreciate it as much as I did, but I just feel that it doesn't as well by itself without being more familiar with Solondz's intentions.