TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2016 // A REVIEW OF "NERDLAND"
If Ed, Edd n Eddy plus Blues Clues got really drunk and then rolled around inside a grease-soaked fast-food bag, I believe they might just make this film.
NERDLAND follows John (Paul Rudd) and Elliot (Patton Oswalt), two slacker nobodys who are hell-bent on achieving fame and will stop at nothing to achieve it. When legitimately creating their own work and pitching it to a famous actor proves too difficult, these two bone heads begin brain storming. They start with something simple. Maybe heroism is the way to fame? Yet that becomes too difficult as well, so then the two switch from “fame” to finding a road towards “infamy”. They decide that mass murder is the only way to proceed to fame and they go for it. To prepare for their crime spree the guys borrow an illicit tape from “the king” (an underworld pop-culture deity) intended to de-sensitize its viewer. Yet of course, murder turns out to be a little too much work for a pair of procrastinators, too.
NERDLAND is dark, a little whimsical, and has a lot to say. The commentary however, is maybe a bit too blatant. I mean, yeah, we get it. Hollywood sucks. People are so focused on fame that infamy has become more important than substance. The extreme animated violence and overt sexual themes (a graphic scene with a blow up doll and then strippers being murdered are both included in the first 5 minutes, need I say more?) lends a seriously twisted and slightly uncomfortable vibe. This film holds no punches and explores every extreme corner of humankind’s darkest edges.
Director Chris Prynoski does somehow manage to keep the ridiculous twosome likable just enough to keep watching. Mind you, the audience is happy to stay to watch, but the characters are so scummy and archetypal that not a single member is rooting for the guys to succeed. I found myself enjoying some sort of sick satisfaction as each hare-brained scheme failed. As far-fetched as the entire plot of the film is, I was content to watch the reality of these idiotic plans blow up in their stubbly little faces.
From a purely technical aspect, the film is very well done. The voice acting is simple and not too “cartoonish,” constantly matching the dark undertones of the film. My favorite thing about NERDLAND is the actual illustrations which are so incredibly interesting to watch. The backgrounds are all splattered with paint droplets as if the animators didn’t quite have the time or energy to fill in the gaps in John and Elliot‘s world. This matches the exaggerated faces and stale looking colors on every characters face. Yet where the background lacks detail, the characters are fully defined down the wrinkles and acne.
Although the film is super dark, it is also relatively funny once you get past that slimy coating. I’ve never heard or seen a better placement for the song ‘Desperado’, or been so socially stirred by such an aggressive cartoon. But I’ll tell you one thing; I could’ve lived my entire life without seeing an animated puckered anus.
Or ANY puckered anus for that matter…
CHRISENA'S VERDICT: SEE IT
DIRECTED BY Chris Prynoski WRITTEN BY Andrew Kevin Walker STARRING Paul Rudd, Patton Oswalt, Hannibal Buress, Riki Lindhome, Kate Micucci, Mike Judge, Reid Scott
Playing as part of the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.
For tickets and information: https://tribecafilm.com/festival/
FINAL THOUGHTS: See it if animated nudity doesn’t bother you and/or if Hollywood really makes you angry.
CHRISENA RICCI is an actor, director and writer. Her current acting adventure has taken her to Alaska to perform in THE DAYS OF '98. Her most recent acting and writing project in New York City was with Girl Be Heard's EMBODI(ED). Other past credits include the role of Elizabeth in HONESTLY ABE: THE MUSICAL, and directing for Writopia lab's IT NEVER ENDS.