Review of Special (1967) by Josh G — 15 Apr 2009

One of the memorable quotes from Scott Tobias's AV Club review of Special is the following: "Without the money for big effects - or more than a handful of locations, for that matter - the film instead looks inward, ruminating on how the superhero myth can tap into private fantasies and delusions of grandeur." There's a big problem with that comment, though, which seems a common theme from the critics' responses to the movie. See, most everybody seems to have this idea that Special is somehow about super-heroes, when it is most definitely not.

I'm not just saying that because Les (Michael Rapaport) doesn't have super-powers and is instead suffering from adverse side effects, i.e. delusions, caused from taking an experimental drug designed to increase the user's sense of self-worth.

Yes, with a plot summary like that, it's not difficult to see why critics would approach the film from the super-hero angle. The trailer doesn't do much to dispel this line of thought, either. As Les continues taking this wonder drug, he feels that his powers are developing "like gangbusters". He can levitate, walk through walls, read minds, etc. Of course, he cannot actually do any of these things - it's all in his mind. His friends look at him in horror as he repeatedly injures himself, but they are unable to get through to the man beneath the medicine. He becomes so absorbed in his own story that he sees their concern as a sign that the "suits" who are after him have brainwashed all of his friends.

Maybe you're getting a better idea of what the movie actually is now. Instead of being about super-heroes, it is about one man. It is about this man. It's about a man so down on himself that his boss feels that Les needs to be reminded that he is important. And so when Les begins believing in his newfound "abilities", it's both funny and surprisingly sad. He brushes off his numerous scars and bloody noses as a consequence of not having harnessed his powers yet, unable to see the harm he is causing to himself.

Michael Rapaport has always been an actor who has been unimpressing to me, but he was the perfect fit for this role. He does a good job playing a lovable yet naive goofus, which makes the reality of his situation more difficult to bear. And when the plot requires Les to show more emotion, Rapaport delivers pretty well.

Special is not perfect. There are scenes that go on longer than that probably needed to, the plot is pretty threadbare (it's not entirely difficult to understand Slate magazine's assertion that the plot would have fit a 15-minute short better than a full-length film), and there are some questions left unanswered. But those flaws aren't enough to prevent the wit of the premise and the sincerity of the character from being very rewarding. Special is a low-budget indie flick with a small scope, but it mostly works.

I would like to caution you, though: if you plan on watching this film, try to avoid the trailers. I kind of felt that I had seen most of the movie in the trailers, which was a little disappointing and initially gave me a lesser opinion of the movie. But reading about the film on the IMDB forums, specifically regarding the deeper meaning of the title, helped to fuel my appreciation for the movie.

To conclude: I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that Special is a perfect or even great movie. But it's obviously a work of the heart, an odd and deceptively simple film that doesn't require the resolution of all of its plotlines in order to be effective. It's good is what it is, even if it's not as profound as it maybe thinks it is. It's good, it's sincere, and that's great.