Review of Swiss Army Man (2016) by Tim R — 14 Jul 2016

Just like the theme and message the film is portraying and encouraging, 'Swiss Army Man' is fearless. The film itself is unbound by standard conventions and perfectly balances comedy with touching emotion. It is fantastically acted, the soundtrack is spot on, and this has the best editing I've seen in a movie all year. Within this atypical story and plot, it touches on allowing yourself to be weird, to be vulnerable, and to see the strength of bravery.

I can tell you now, it is definitely NOT a movie for everyone, as it can be rather childish and immature with the humor and how it's presented. You must allow yourself to give the movie till about halfway to understand that there is more below the surface than just satire and repeated fart jokes. There is something deep and beautiful hidden underneath in the metaphors and messages they are masking with the humor.

There is also a heavy misdirection throughout the film and is fun for anyone watching the movie with continuous shifts in where it's heading.

While it's bizarre, even the directors said it's a movie that will have you laughing at the first fart and feeling sad by the last. I cannot remember a movie I've seen in recent years that felt this limitless and made me laugh just as much as I was tearing up. It's truly remarkable how everyone who watches can have different interpretations with their viewing. My only gripe was in the initial pacing and how I felt the ending stumbled. As a whole though, I left the theater with so many questions that the film forced me to think about with life, personal boundaries, and how to truly live. It put a smile on my face and it's certainly not for everyone but for those who can appreciate this type of film, you're in for a real treat!

As for my interpretation, this absolutely was not to be taken literally. The entire story and build up of events parallel the initial fears and isolation the main character, Hank inflicts upon himself. He even starts the movie on a deserted island away from civilization, ready to end his own life until he is interrupted by a seemingly dead body that can't stop farting. This "dead body" character acts as a curious vessel, who unlike Hank speaks with complete innocence and without filters as to how he feels or thinks. In having these conversations between the two, Hank is able to reflect on himself, on his own choices, how he limits himself due to his lack of courage, and how he finds comfort in his own fears. In re-teaching the dead body how to be "alive" it's actually more of a conversation with himself and us as the audience in learning how to be "alive" again. The movie is silly on the surface and is why I ask that you watch with an open mind and look for the meanings within.