SIFF Film Review: “Eagle vs. Shark” : June 1, 4pm, Neptune Theatre
This film nails its tagline – “Finding love was never so… Awkward.”
Both of the main characters – the sweet Lily and the arrogant Jarrod, seem almost too awkward on their own to function in society, but that’s their appeal in this “loser genre” film along the lines of “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Me, You, and Everyone We Know”. The situations and conflicts are things that would normally not be seen as troublesome, but Lily and Jarrod react and speak in such a response to them that some of us were squirming uncomfortably in our seats as they struggled to communicate.
In their ability to remain deadpan throughout the entire film and emote a strong reaction (of various kinds) from the audience, Jemaine Clement (Jarrod) and Loren Horsley (Lily) were fantastic actors. The story was filled with various curves and twists, some more predictable than others, that didn’t bore for a moment, and the clips of stop-animation were great supplements to the main storyline.
All said and done, the film is fantastic – for its target audience. If you’re the type who has yet to find the humor in the “loser” genre, “Eagle vs. Shark” will not change your mind much.