Review of Tusk (2014) by Grant S — 22 Apr 2016

What on earth was Kevin Smith thinking?

Two friends, Wallace (played by Justin Long) and Teddy (Haley Joel Osment), produce a pod cast show out of LA. They interview (mock, more like) weird people on their show. For their latest interview, Wallace goes to Canada, only to discover that the interviewee has died. Loathe to return to LA with nothing to show for his efforts, he sets out to find an interesting person or story. His search leads him to the middle of nowhere and Howard Howe (Michael Parks), who has a very keen interest in walruses...

Directed by Kevin Smith, this is one of the most ridiculous movies I've ever seen. Kevin Smith made his name making stoner-slacker comedies in the 90s and 00s: Clerks (which is brilliant), Mallrats, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, to name but a few. In 2011 he made Red State, a drama that focused on religious cults and terrorism. While not brilliant, it was reasonably good and, moreover, was quite a radical and interesting departure for him. Surely this was the start of the new Kevin Smith, the one who makes biting, insightful dramas?

Sadly, it was a false dawn. Tusk is his first feature film since Red State and it is atrocious. Plot is very stupid, going out of its way to gross people out. It reminds me of Boxing Helena (1993), and that was pretty perverse, and dumb.

There are some lighter moments in the second half which help ease the pain of watching the movie, and it is those that prevent this from getting the lowest possible rating.

The fact that there are known actors in this makes it even more perplexing - who would want this on their CV? Justin Long tends to do B-grade movies, so not too much of a surprise there, I suppose. Haley Joel Osment's star has clearly waned significantly since the heights of The Sixth Sense. The biggest surprise is the appearance of Johnny Depp, in more ways than one. Don't know why he took the gig, and he is barely recognisable.

Fleetwood Mac / Lindsay Buckingham must be regretting allowing "Tusk" to be used in the soundtrack. This is not the sort of movie you want to be associated with.