Review of Swiss Army Man (2016) by Jesse K — 08 Oct 2016

5/5 Friendship and Flatulence.

When the plot of Swiss Army Man was first announced I shared a collective laugh with all other forum-browsing film buffs who couldn't decide if this idea would fail tremendously...or become the greatest movie ever. Jokingly, I had hopes for the latter. Then the trailer came out, and although I tried to avoid it, it greeted me as a theatre preview. It was in that movie theatre that my eyes grew wide and I thought to myself, "I have to see this film immediately.".

Once Swiss Army Man was released, many people turned their heads to a story where a main plot point involved a farting corpse. A farting Daniel Radcliffe corpse to be specific. But I embraced the seemingly juvenile behaviour because I knew it was there for a reason (but I'll get to that later). To sum up the plot briefly, Hank (Paul Dano) is rescued from a desert island once a corpse (Daniel Radcliffe) washes up on the shore bearing strange powers. The two go on a wild adventure in search of a home, a girl, and the courage to return to a life long lost.

The two leads work wonderfully together as they build a beautiful friendship despite their bizarre circumstances. Dano shines as a lonely soul trying to comprehend the way people lead their lives and why his can't be exactly like everyone else's. Radcliffe is also perfect in bringing so much life to a man who's nearly dead, from his hilarious delivery to the ridiculous twitching of his body. Seeing these two pals having fun together put one of the biggest smiles on my face from any film this year. The humour is abundant, although it's certainly not for everyone.

This movie is absurd. It is crazy. And as Hank might say, it is weird. Weird because it does things other movies wouldn't do and thus people make fun of it. However, I think it's necessary that Swiss Army Man turns some people away. It's a highly original concept that some people had the bravery and the artistic drive to pursue, knowing that not everyone would adore it. But just as there are people who can't stand seeing a corpse battle an erection, there are people like me who fall in love which such absurdities. I don't want to go into spoiler territory or speak too much on my personal interpretation of the film, but I do believe that all the elements that come into play have a meaning - even the farting. I know many viewers have been frustrated by the ending and I can't really blame them for it. It can seem a bit rushed and you may have no idea what's going on. But the more I think about the ending the more I love it.

Also as a quick side note - the music in this film is incredible. Not just the music itself but the concept behind it too.

Swiss Army Man captivated me with a magical, childlike sense of awe. It brought a feeling that any successful story brings me. It made me laugh, it (nearly) made me cry and it never contained a single dull moment. I hope I can discover more movies with as much originality and actual quality as Swiss Army Man. It is now one of my favourites of 2016.