"Who is your daddy, and what does he do?" - Kindergarten Cop (1990) about | advertise | classifieds | legal | myspace | staff | submit for review | support
 
FREE Weekly Newsletter



 
 
     
 
   
 
     
EAGLE VS SHARK
by Mark Bell
2006, Un-rated, 93 minutes, Miramax
All hail the rise of geek-edy, taken to its obvious perfection in Taika Waititi's feature film "Eagle vs. Shark."

Lily works at a fast-food restaurant, and is on all accounts completely socially inept. Obliviously so. Her co-workers mock her and her manager wants to fire her, and her only real joy is the visit from video game retail store clerk Jarrod. If Lily is socially inept, Jarrod is on another planet of his own nerd-making, one where one's worth is defined by their video game skills, and whether they can rock the nun-chuck in a street fight. Like stars aligning, Lily and Jarrod finally come together romantically after Lily attends Jarrod's costume party in which everyone comes as their favorite animal. Things are looking like Geek #1 and Loser #2 have found the matches made in Cupid Fuck-tank, when Jarrod drops the bomb that he has to leave town, to cryptically avenge his youth against a former bully. Not willing to let the love of her life leave so soon, Lily tags along. And the rest as they say, much like the minutes before it, is gut-busting hilarity.

Loren Horsley and Jemaine Clement are brilliant as Lily and Jarrod. Horsley's Lily is amazingly offensive to one social senses, and that's even when you're on her side. Jemaine's Jarrod is that kind of tech support prick geek that feels superior to everyone while being completely ridiculous in everything from attire to conversation. We've all met people like this, or we are people like this, and Loren and Jemaine are to be commended with bringing such socially destructive characters to life in such a way that is endearing and ultimately love-able. I could go on with scene re-caps and favorite quotes, but I want you to see the movie without my ruining any moments for you.

"Eagle vs. Shark" is refreshing in that, while it is hilarious on all counts, it also truly delves into the love of two people who would normally never have a romantic comedy made for them. Geeks in Hollywood are just hot people in glasses, or quirky male models. But in "Eagle vs. Shark," the geeks have inherited the Earth, and given the respect and attention they deserve. They're real, they're in love and closer to reality more than 95% of the romantic comedies spoon-fed us annually.

I don't care how you do it, you have to see "Eagle vs. Shark." At worst, you'll walk away amused. At best, you'll have a new favorite movie. Regardless, you will have a fun time. Now I have to go train, because I am intense and mysterious, and sometimes people have trouble with my intensity because I'm complex... Goddamn I love this movie...

 
Leave Comments:
UserName:
Password:
If you do not have a UserName or Password, register with Film Threat.
Comment:
Enter the text in the below image in the following space:
All HTML and other coding languages are stripped from the comments, so any added links or special text formating will not be active.
Read more reviews ...
  2009-11-19 - PROMETHEUS TRIUMPHANT: A FUGUE IN THE KEY OF FLESH  
  2009-11-19 - THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON  
  2009-11-19 - TINTO BRASS' THE HOWL (L’URLO) (DVD)  
  2009-11-19 - BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS  
  2009-11-18 - POISON SWEETHEARTS  
  2009-11-17 - RIVER OF RENEWAL (DVD)  
  2009-11-17 - PLANET B-BOY (DVD)  
  2009-11-16 - 2012  
  2009-11-15 - INSIDE DARKNESS  
  2009-11-14 - GOOD EVENING FOLKS, WE’RE THE PINE BOX BOYS  
  2009-11-14 - ABBY  
  2009-11-13 - PIRATE RADIO  
  2009-11-13 - THE END OF POVERTY?  
  2009-11-12 - BONECRUSHER  
  2009-11-12 - NORTH BY NORTHWEST: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (DVD)  
  2009-11-11 - PAURA: LUCIO FULCI REMEMBERED VOL. 1 (DVD)  
  2009-11-11 - SUPER 8 GIRL GAMES (DVD)  
  2009-11-10 - UP: TWO-DISC DELUXE EDITION (DVD)  
  2009-11-10 - LOVE AND SAVAGERY  
  2009-11-08 - LUIS BUNUEL'S DEATH IN THE GARDEN (DVD)  
  2009-11-08 - PAROLES ET MUSIQUE (LOVE SONGS) (DVD)  
  2009-11-07 - THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS  
  2009-11-07 - CLONES GONE WILD  
  2009-11-06 - THE BOX  
  2009-11-06 - THE FOURTH KIND  
     

Headlines
 

Latest Blogs
TRUTH BEHIND "THE FOURTH KIND"? UNIVERSAL ASKS THAT YOU SEE FOR YOURSELF...
A FRIENDLY REMINDER -- FOLLOW FT ON TWITTER
"HOOTERS" WITH SCOOPERS
SOUND ON SIGHT: ANTICHRIST, FESTIVAL DU NOUVEAU CINEMA & A FEW OTHER THINGS
SOUND ON SIGHT: COPPOLA & THE COVE

NEW ON DVD!
UP: TWO-DISC DELUXE EDITION (DVD)
BALLAST
LUIS BUNUEL'S DEATH IN THE GARDEN (DVD)
FOOD, INC.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN (DVD)
UP
NORTH BY NORTHWEST: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (DVD)
STAR TREK

Film Threat Poll
Does 2012 deserve all the hype and coin it's getting?
1) Yes - it's bringing the world down!
2) It's a giant stink bomb.
3) Cusack and Harrelson should co-star in a gay romance.
In Theaters
BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON
2012
PIRATE RADIO
THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS
THE FOURTH KIND
THE BOX
THIS IS IT
AN EDUCATION
SAW VI




Site Programming
Site Artwork
copyright © 1985-2009
Gore Group Publications
   
about | advertise | classifieds | legal | myspace | staff | submit for review | support