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Critics Consensus: Though there are frequent moments of wit and mordant humor, Eagle vs Shark needs more to distinguish itself from other precious, Napoleon Dynamite-ish comedies.
Critic Consensus: Though there are frequent moments of wit and mordant humor, Eagle vs Shark needs more to distinguish itself from other precious, Napoleon Dynamite-ish comedies.
All Critics (107) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (48) | DVD (3)
You don't have to be a schoolyard bully to find yourself longing to administer swift, vicious wedgies to the nerdish inhabitants of this kitsch Kiwi excursion.
Daft, sweet, awkward and amusingly rude.
The movie's idea of funny is giving the two lovers identical moles bordering their upper lips.
Eagle vs. Shark feels like a low-budget, foreign cousin to Napolean Dynamite, less polished and sly. But it's definitely in the same family, lulling us into friendly acceptance with its persuasively silly rhythm and deceptively big heart.
Yes, the nerdy loser thing has been done to death, but writer-director Taika Cohen brings surprising depth to this film...Napoleon Dynamite dreams of being this movie.
So the only real argument I can make for Eagle vs. Shark, a stupid-absurdist comedy from New Zealand, is that I laughed a lot, often despite myself, and that while I might not be able to wholly justify it, I can mount a questionable defense.
As likeable as the movie was, I just didn't find it as funny as I thought I would.
The strength of Eagle vs Shark lies in its unconventional story with unconventional leads.
As stylistically and thematically quirky as one might've anticipated...
Off-planet strangeness with a captivation factor.
Romantic comedy about two lonely people who find each other while orbiting on the outer fringes of society reminded me of 'Napoleon Dynamite.'
...mostly tedious and depressing, its eighty-eight minutes going by in about eight hours.
A terminally shy burger joint cashier thinks she has found her perfect boyfriend in socially inept videogame store clerk Jarrod, who is desperately trying to escape the shadow of his over-achieving dead brother in ever more unfortunate ways. Eagle Vs. Shark, as I'm sure you can tell from the DVD cover, is one of those kooky indie comedies that desperately tries to do rom-com in an "unconventional" way. Of course, all the genre has done is create a brand new set of conventions and this film ticks all the appropriate boxes. It does have a more easy-going charm to it than many of its type, possibly because of the antipodean mentality and Lily is a very difficult character to fail to warm to. The presence of Jemaine Clement from Flight Of The Conchords will be the film's main draw, but anyone expecting a carbon copy of the cult show will be disappointed. Its more a Kiwi Napoleon Dynamite homage that gently mocks the "alpha male" mentality and although hardly hilarious, it is always gently amusing and would make a fine date movie for Guardian readers.
Super Reviewer
Funny and very, very sweet! Sort of a Romeo & Juliet for nerds (like me!)
I suppose love is blind. I don't see what Lily sees in Jarrod - to me, he is crazy whereas Lily is just awkward. But the movie is engaging. I find I was hoping they could make a go of it by the end.
Brilliant film showcasing the comedic talent of Jermaine Clement in a tale of two socially awkward misfits looking for love in strange ways with the help of video game prowess, burgers, and revenge on high school bullies. Not only a well executed film; but beautiful cinematography of New Zealand which enhances this mesmerizing tale of a different kind of love story.
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