Review of Syrup (2013) by Martin B — 05 May 2013

Max Barry is one of my favorite authors, so I have been waiting anxiously for the film of his first novel, Syrup, to be released ever since I heard it was being adapted. The result is... a little disappointing.

The film has a great energy and style to it. The director does a great job here (and I also specifically noticed the music in the film did a lot to help create that energy). The story, involving the cut-throat world of marketing, is fairly original, and for most of the film keeps you interested. But it does have difficulty deciding the tone of the film, succeeding when it's focusing on satire, but considerably weaker when it tries to be a love story. The film falls apart somewhat at the end when it tries to get serious and make you sympathize with its characters, none of which are particulary likeable, and the very end is pretty unsatisfying.

As far as the cast, there is only one real weak link. Unfortunately that weak link is the main character. Shiloh Fernandez simply is not ready for prime time. He feels like a low budget amateur actor thrown in with a cast of professionals. Amber Heard as Six, on the other hand does excellent work here, mixing ruthlessness with vulnerability, deception, and especially sex appeal. The rest of the cast is fine, but besides the two stars are barely in it. Kellan Lutz shows up for a few scenes, most of them without speaking a word, and Brittany Snow appears in a scene or two for what amounts to nothing more than a cameo. Speaking of cameos, watch for the author Max Barry to make a brief appearance as the bald waiter early in the film.

Would I recommend it? Probably. It's worth watching. I just wish it had lived up to its potential instead of leaving us unsatisfied. But hey, maybe that was the point - that in the end it's all marketing and buildup, when in the end it's just an empty product.