Feed the Fish

"Feed the Fish" is one of those quirky, dark comedies set in the dead of winter in the dead of Wisconsin. That's what I thought it was, and I was mostly right. "Dark" is the part that I was wrong about. But forgive me because it started in Venice, California with our hero Joe (Ross Partridge) talking about his successful children's book "Mr. Kitty Feeds the Fish" which was a hit because kids love violence!

The irreverent humour at the beginning — like how there will likely be a lawsuit if his second book has kids stuck under the ice, or when his best friend was flushed down a toilet — eroded into a predictable romantic comedy. I do love the fusion of different genres and I even like romantic comedies, but the beginning was better than what it became.

Suffering from writer's block, Joe is off to Ellison Bay, Wisconsin with a friend. JP is there for the Polar Bear Plunge, Joe is there for rejuvenation. But upon arrival, Joe meets a girl, and JP meets with a joke that doesn't work, a badger attacked his groin area. There were a whole series of re-attaching testicle jokes—none of them work.

The girl is beautiful, single, smart, strong and independent. Of course she is, she's the main squeeze, supporting character, did you expect her to be anything less than perfect? But her father is a gun-toting, unpleasant sheriff (Tony Shalhoub) and Joe has to prove that he's worthy of his daughter's affections.

"Feed the Fish" would have been funnier, more original, and authentic if they stayed with the dark comedy beginning. For every witty joke, there would be two disctinctly unfunny jokes (usually about testicles and/or a badger), which is too bad because this is a better movie than that.

Caught the cast and crew premiere of this romantic comedy (a genre I most often hate with a passion --think "New In Town"-- ), at a fine old Green Bay, Wisconsin movie-house this weekend. I presumed I would dislike it. WHAT A SURPRISE. The writer/director must be a comic writer or have hundreds of "funny" bones throughout his body, because there were loud laughs (two or more) during every scene! The film isn't so much about romance, as it pretends to be. It's about community, acceptance, and forgiving others --along with yourself. But COMEDY is so hard to pull off. Yet, wonder of wonders, this film feels REAL. And that makes the humor even funnier. From slapstick to comedy-of-embarrassment, from classic bedroom farce to intellectual jokes, all played equally well. The audience greeted it with consistent, loud laughter throughout the rough-cut. No big stars here, save Tony Shalhoub, but all the players were excellent character actors, up-and-comers, and/or stock roles that shone as brightly as the old pros who came on board. Maybe well see more of Matzdorff.

I just saw this last night, and I was delighted by the clever writing and the honest performances. Some situations stretch reality a bit, as any good comedy/farce does, but the writing always stays grounded in reality.

Barry Corbin turns in a layered and wonderful performance as a family patriarch, Tony Shalhoub is wonderful as usual, and the rest of the cast is fun, believable and interesting.

Although obviously shot on a limited budget, the director uses local scenery and architecture to paint a rich background to the plot.

I'd like to see more from director Michael Matzdorff, and from the entire cast!

Have no idea why no one has heard of this brilliant romantic Christmas comedy. Has none of the modern day movie crap just fun great comedy with phenomenal acting and a great cast you get to know and like. Shaloub is always brilliant that's a given but the rest of the cast all shine, EVERYONE!! I'm so glad I purchased this as it's now going to be part of our Christmas movie rotation, if you liked while you were sleeping this is for you!!!!! It just taught me that predictable can be joyous!! BRAVO!! To the whole cast and crew.

Ross (Joe Pedersen) has written and illustrated a successful children's book, Mr. Kitty Feeds the Fish. As such, his publishers gave him a rather large advance to write a follow-up. But, alas, Ross has writer's block and his live-in galpal in Venice CA is peeved. Happily, her brother comes to the rescue by suggesting a change in venue. This J.P. (a hilarious Michael Chernis) takes Ross far, far away to upper Wisconsin, where the duo will participate in the annual polar plunge into lake Michigan. But, horrors! J.P. gets badly injured by a badger and ends up in the small town hospital. Poor Ross, who doesn't even know how to turn up the heat in their house, has to fend for himself. The sheriff (Tony Shaloub) is mighty miffed when another gentleman, a hunter, gets injured at the same place as J.P., albeit by a bullet fired by mistake. But, there is a lovely lady Sif (Katie Asleton) who catches Ross' eye and makes his heart flutter while her very grandfather helps Ross learn how to ice fish and adjust to the freezing climate. Will Ross indeed be inspired to finish his book? This darling movie, written and direction by Michael Matzdorff, is true delight. There are many humorous new takes on a California guy getting his first taste of the Arctic atmosphere and the locals of the town are hilariously quirky. Meanwhile, the scenery is harsh but beautiful, complete with a real badger! Do you want to feed your funny bone and laugh laugh laugh? Go fishing for Feed the Fish!