Review of The Station Agent (2003) by Dawdlingpoet — 27 Nov 2021

This movie is very slow paced and its definitely quirky. I didn't feel all that interested in the main character though, which didn't help, yes he's somewhat of a recluse but he doesn't seem particularly endearing or interesting at all really, though Joe and Olivia are perhaps more intriguing characters. Its quite nice to see how Fin at first ignores a young child who introduces herself to him and then in time he starts to talk to her more.

The movie is quite deep if you think about the issues it tries to deal with but then that makes for not much of a comedy movie and again its a movie classified as a comedy when really it isn't, not in any kind of a laugh out loud way, thats for sure, its more a 'make you think' type movie, where your given an insight into how people treat dwarfs such as Fin. The movie is quite poignant I suppose, I think that you could get into it but it drags at the start and I found myself losing interest as the main character really didn't seem to appeal to me enough. As the movie progresses, the other characters, as I say, make it more interesting but its really quite a sobering movie overall, not one to get a great deal of entertainment from, thats for sure. I do like to watch the odd quirky movie every so often, thats true and I can see how this would be well received for some but I felt that it seemed to miss something for me personally, perhaps I wasn't in the correct frame of mind for it, I don't know.

I do feel that the movie gets a bit more poignant and even somewhat touching towards the end, though I won't give it away by saying quite how but it does and at the end your left feeling like you've just watched a movie that tried to tackle some pretty serious issues I suppose and that it is a good attempt at a sobering and thoughtful movie but still it isn't among my favourites when it comes to this sort of movie, personally, its too slow to pick up at the start and I just never quite 'got' the main character im afraid, so, I see it as being too average and hence the 3 star rating.

Also don't worry if your not a train enthusiast, the movie isn't all about trains, for anyone wondering! of course trains are mentioned and it plays a role in the story but ultimately the movie is about loneliness and companionship I feel, subjects that intrigue me, so that is one thing that made me interested in renting this movie.

I think perhaps some people would find it somewhat intriguing and interesting and could quite like it but overall, like I say, I felt it was somehow lacking. If the script was tweaked somewhat and some changes made, then yes I'd whole heartedly recommend it but as it is, no I don't think I would recommend it. There are other films of a similar nature that I've enjoyed more.