Review of Swiss Army Man (2016) by Ethan P — 28 Aug 2017

A fantastic movie that had no real right to be fantastic. Symbolism is everywhere, but I didn't feel like I was being forced to see it. The same goes for the incredibly genuine messages of self-acceptance and friendship. It felt less like pretentious directors spitting their views in my mouth, and more like good friends gently showing me a path towards a new perspective.

Paul Dano is sympathetic and relatable as Hank, and this is one of the few times I've seen a movie and haven't be able to picture any other actor taking the place of the straight-man (pun heavily intended). And Daniel Radcliffe proves yet again that he's capable of so much more than sticking with the role that made him a star as a kid. Even if the farts aren't funny to some viewers, Radcliffe's performance (his timing especially) is sure to make for at least a few laughs.

Both leads are really funny throughout, but the sadder moments shine just as much.

My only issue with the movie is in the visual storytelling, mostly in the opening few minutes. There just isn't enough focus given for character thought process to be as clear as it should be.

Swiss Army Man's biggest fans are most likely going to be young people who can fully understand and relate to Hank, and I think the film knows this. If you enjoy, or at least can get past the fart jokes, there's a really wonderful movie here. I think it has the potential to resonate with this generation in the same way films like The Graduate did, and I really look forward to whatever Daniels (the name has stuck) do next.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention how effectively music is used to move the story and give feeling to the scenes it's used in. Incredibly original and a great window back into Daniels past work on music videos.