by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
Aside from Peter Jackson and his merry band of hobbits, New Zealand isn’t really known for its filmmaking. In recent years, however, that tide has been turning. Kiwi flicks like Whale Rider and World’s Fastest Indian have gotten outstanding reviews and numerous award nominations. One of the latest to come out of New Zealand is Eagle vs. Shark, a quirky comedy that’s taken home some trophies on the film festival circuit. It’s now available on DVD.
Lily (Loren Horsley) is a socially awkward 20-something who meets and falls for Jarrod (Jemaine Clement), king of the awkward 20-somethings, while working as a cashier at a fast food restaurant. The perfectly matched pair, right down to the identical moles above their respective lips, soon becomes a couple, bonding over animal costumes and video games. Their romance blossoming, the two head to Jarrod’s home town so he can settle an old score with a bully that picked on him when he was a kid. There, Lily meets Jarrod’s family who are initially a bit cold to the wide-eyed wallflower. But, with Jarrod off training for his big fight, Lily is forced to bond with them and to take a good long look at her relationship.
Eagle vs. Shark received a limited theatrical release in the US last year and was recently brought to DVD. Extras on the disc are slim but worth checking out. Writer/director Taika Waititi provides an insightful audio commentary track for the feature film (with a couple special guests every now and then) and for the thirteen deleted scenes included on the DVD. There’s also a decent three minute outtake reel and a music video for The Phoenix Foundation’s song “Going Fishing.”
Eagle vs. Shark has been compared to Napoleon Dynamite since the very first trailer hit the web and that’s certainly fair. Both films are about geeky outcasts looking for friendship, love and acceptance. Both feature strange, quirky characters that come from dysfunctional households (Napoleon to a lesser degree, of course) and wacky relatives who attempt to get rich off of lame home businesses. In many cases the similarities are almost too much, but that doesn’t mean Eagle vs. Shark has nothing to offer. The film is funny but also has incredibly moving moments, particularly towards the end when Jarrod’s family lets down its guard with Lily. The film is sweet but a little saucy, with our leads awkwardly knocking boots within the first half hour, something poor Napoleon will probably never experience. Eagle vs. Shark also has a couple of delightful stop motion sequences that add a bit of whimsy to the proceedings. In other words, this is Napoleon Dynamite all grown up with a New Zealand accent, some animation and an actual linear plot.
If you’ve seen Clement’s work in his HBO series The Flight of the Conchords, you know what to expect. His Jarrod is slightly stranger than his character on the show, but not by much. Clement is great as this socially stunted outcast, managing to both attract the audience with his desperation to fit in and repel with his absurd stunts to do just that. You want to hate him, you want Lily to hate him, but you can’t, and neither can she. Speaking of Lily, Horsley is brilliant in this, her first real starring role. She created the character from scratch and it really highlights her comedic talents.
If you hated Napoleon Dynamite or don’t quite “get” The Flight of the Conchords, you’ll probably be better off skipping Eagle vs. Shark. Those who enjoy that kind of humor, however, will be pleased to add this Kiwi delight to their DVD collection.
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