Ape

I saw this film at the Copenhagen Film Festival (CPH PIX), where the director, Joel Potrykus was also present, and he shared a handful of interesting facts about the film afterwards, among them being that the budget for the film was only around 2000 bucks, mostly going to catering the crew and transportation, so with that in mind, the end-result is actually quite impressing.

But, despite of this, the film has to be reviewed as a "real" feature-film, and not just some friends making a school-project, and in that regard, it falls completely flat in almost every way. The leading actor, Joshua Burge, playing the unfunny stand-up comedian Trevor Newandyke, is sympathetic enough, but generally just comes through as a lazy slacker bum, who doesn't want a real job, and would rather just hustle his way through life.. or "wing it", rather. All the other characters in the film are either just random bystanders, or similar goal-less slacker-types, like his colleague Dennis Spicer (Gary Bosek), who also deliver quite a few unfunny jokes throughout the movie.

For some reason, the director chose to throw in a few random scenes with a guy in a monkey-suit harassing Trevor, and a guy in a devil-suit doing the same, and quite a few scenes with Trevor using a spray-can as a flamethrower or throwing a poorman's Molotov-cocktail on the ground... again, for no reason whatsoever.

If you have absolutely nothing better to do with your time, and you love watching amateurish, "unfunny" unfunny movies with no real plot or character-development at all, this movie is perfect for you. For everybody else, it's not.

P.S: The director also mentioned, that all the jokes Trevor tells in the film, are actually his own bad jokes, from when he himself was a stand-up comedian, so you can't even tell him to "stick to his day-job" either, as the jokes really stunk.... hard.

Ape proves that cinema can capture the audience without unnecessary and distracting cuts, crane shots, or love interests. Burge's performance along with Potrykus' direction allows the audience to take in Trevor Newandyke with slight frustration, but still remain attached with a certain amount of likability to the character. Trevor, who seems to be full of frustration, just the same, seems to listen to music consistently reinforcing the frustration. Potrykus gives breaks of this anger with bits of comedy and fire. Ape has many twists and turns, and pushes the boundaries of its viewers with long shots and awkward scenes. Nonetheless, it seems to hold my attention throughout and leaves me wanting more for from this wonderful duo. Please note, the film may not be for you if you think good cinema equals ridiculous cuts, million dollar budgets, or plots that don't make you use your brain. Ape seems to have multiple levels and perhaps meanings that many may miss if not willing to let go of modern-day blockbuster expectations.

lucky enough to catch this weird little gem at VIFF (vancouver fest). low budget and surreal, with humor that you'll either get, or won't. Nothing here is too obvious or direct. I actually thought a lot of the jokes the main character tells are pretty damn funny. The lead character Trevor is a lot like Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver, too. Great performance.

The director obviously doesn't like the "mtv" style of editing or using flashy camera tricks. Its all very "real" feeling and mundane. There's no romance of big sad or dramatic moments. I don't even remember hearing a traditional score. Just some really cool punk, metal, and hip hop songs that the lead character hears. It's like we're directly inside his head. Very cool choice and something I don't remember seeing before.

Hopefully it will come out in the US soon, or at least back to Canada!