When Bobby Bowersox is struck with a baseball in right field that seemed to come right out of left field, it is clear that he needs to get glasses. When he gets them he suddenly can see things clearer – from the objects around him through to the glossy pictures of women in swimwear and smiles that previously were a mysterious blur that meant nothing to him. Although reluctant to accept his need for glasses and the context of what he can now see, with careful and loving guidance from his parents Boyd and Paulette, Bobby's world view will change.
To be honest, the allegory within Foureyes is not particularly clever and if you cannot see that the transition into seeing is running with Bobby's change to seeing and appreciating girls and seeing changes in himself and others, then you probably need a pair of the glasses yourself (metaphorically). This is not a terrible thing but it did give me pause that the rest of the film would operate around this sort of level. I guess in lesser hands such an inauspicious (but still good) starting point may have done but with Conor Byrne's film it delivers with such enthusiasm and cheer that it is hard not to like it and go with the central idea. The change in vision regarding clarity and the change in vision regarding perspective/appreciation/understanding merge together well and it isn't as blunt as I first thought, meaning it is never about one without being about the other.
The humor makes it work though and as a coming-of-age film it works well. The general action is humorous and amusing which is a solid bed but within this we have some funny moments in terms of presentation or in certain lines of dialogue. The family chats I found to be particularly good but generally it has an amusing and affectionate air to it. The direction and look of the film feels very 1950's and wholesome, which is a nice feel to frame Bobby even if the time isn't set then. Jake Ryan leads the film well and is a very good bit of casting; he is well supported by funny turns from Kelly, Funk and Gingold.
Foureyes may well be yet another coming-of-age film (a genre which must be up there with "zombies" as one of the most commonly covered in short films) and it may at first glance be obvious in its central idea, but it is nicely structured and delivered with charm, energy and humor which makes it very easy to enjoy.
