Ick

'Ick' reminds me of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. I saw it at a pre-screening with Q&A which was great. The quick timing, quirky humor, and surreal fantasy elements all hit that same sweet spot. The kitschy tone gives it a nostalgic charm that really pulled me in. Visually playful and overall good time film, I loved this movie!

ICK is honestly one of the most electric and inventive films I've seen in a while. It's a 2000s-infused creature feature with incredible performances by some of the best/most iconic names of the 2000s as well as a bunch who got to grow up watching these people. It had to have hit Malina Weissman at least once her teacher/father figure in the film was Superman.

Anyways, the script was super fun and extremely self-aware. It wasn't eye-rolly either. It actually had something to say and said it in a way that was exciting while also getting the message across. It was also a breath of fresh air to see a film that was actually directed and not shot on telephoto lenses at several points throughout the room. Each shot was meticulously crafted, blocked and executed. I mentioned Routh and Weissman before, but they were the heartbeat and soul of this film. Weissman specifically though has the chops that could definitely blow some A-listers out of the water. I know she came from A Series of Unfortunate Events working with Neil Patrick Harris, but her charm and charisma flows through the theater. Her chemistry with Routh too was so dynamic, and their banter literally made the movie that much more fun. The ick itself as an allegory for COVID was very fun to digest and allowed for the film to look upward towards a brighter future if we were to take a step against the societal woes that locked is inside the pandemic for so long. This movie just proves that you can use the medium of movies and storytelling to inspire instead of just depicting pure cynicism on screen for two hours. I can't believe I've gotten this far too without mentioning the soundtrack, and it was absolutely beautiful to be able to hear the soundtrack of my childhood to destroying monsters and fighting for what you believe in. It just reinvigorated my love for the medium, and I IMPLORE that EVERYONE go out and see this over the next couple days. You won't regret just having a blast at the movies!

IT'S WHAT WE GO TO THE MOVIES FOR!!!

Saw this opening at Screamfest at The Mann Chinese Theatre. Super fun film with a great cast. You can tell watching it that everyone involved had a really great time making the film. It feels like a movie made by people who really love films especially those from the 90s and early 2000s. Parts reminded me of Eight Legged Freaks, the Faculty, and Lawnmower Man. It harkened back to a time when popular horror films were more about having a good time then being a deep intellectual pursuit. Not that I mind a brilliant brain bender, but it is refreshing to see a film not take itself so seriously.

The cast was brilliant. Brandon Routh was incredibly charming and funny as the lead, Mena Suvari was great as well. Malina Weissman really carried the film well with her grounded yet endearing performance. Harrison Cone was hilarious as the overly performative, virtue signaling douchebag. Two great breakout performances came from Taia Sophia and Zeke Donovan Jones. Their awkward goth romance added a ton a heart to the film. I suspect these two actors will be future fan favorites.

An icky vine-like alien growth is a nuisance that spreads throughout the world, but in time people merely shrug their shoulders and get used to it. In small-town America the "ick" is regarded suspiciously by some including Hank, a science teacher and former football player, and Grace, one of his students. Their distrust is soon validated as the ick springs violently into a new phase of its growth.

The premise of people grown accustomed, careless, and capricious to a demon in their presence, is tantalizing. A monster is seen and ignored. However, beyond this alluring theme, there is little depth to the story, dialogue, characters, acting, and scenes. It is good for some laughs but there is not a lot of thought or creativity on display at this world premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.

I'm going to be honest here.

This film is pretty dumb.

But, while it comes off as random, with a creature whose existence is never explicitly explained.

Kahn admittedly does a competent job providing explanations for the unexplained aspects of the film via subtext.

You just need to wade through the ick, in order to get there...and, well, get what the film is about.

Because we are the ick.

The ick- an invasive alien plant creature that becomes more malevolent, the more it's exposed to modern humanity- is a manifestation of the worst aspects of human nature...our most cringe qualities (think of it kind of like when AI when is exposed to the internet).

Hence why the only people immune to it are those who have been humbled by life.

Take the two main characters, for example.

Both of whom had it all in highschool, only to lose it all in their transition to adulthood, when life gave them a reality check.

The protagonist of the story, having been the highschool quarterback, whose life- after being slated for the NFL- gets upended when he suffers a career ending injury (brought on by the ick) in his final game before going off to college.

And our protaganess (the most divine beauty to ever grace the silver screen), when, despite being the most popular girl in school, isn't able to get into the university of her dreams.

Though, also her best friend (and the boy she likes), who are just kind-hearted nerds in the form of a tortured artist and the smartest girl in school.

The latter being characters that are contrasted by the guy who seems to be, at least, semi-autobiographically based on the director, himself.

Though, not necessarily in a realistic sense.

Rather, how he had fantasized his life could have gone (ie gets rich, and marries the hottest girl in school...even though that, inevitably, leads to his downfall).

On top of that, Kahn clearly incorporates many of his own coming of age influences into the film, as well.

Not only in the form of a large collection of 2000's era music.

But also via other cultural influences.

Like how the main character comes off as a dollar store (read: satirized) version of Bruce Campbell as Ash in Evil Dead (right down to his iconic blue shirt).

And the one young man who is clearly fashioned after Jason Mewes when he plays Jay in the Kevin Smith films.

All in all, the whole thing is akin to a faster paced, horrorified, version of a teenage high school comedy.

Kind of it like a high octane John Hughes film, with more of an Idiocracy vibe.

Hence why I say it's a "dumb" film, despite the interesting easter eggs that are strewn throughout it.

Many of which, apparently, harken back to his earlier films.

The highlight of it all, though, is clearly our young protagoness.

She is, quite literally, a Goddess so divine, she put's Aphrodite to shame (and goddamn did she ever look good at the TIFF Q&A...the epitome of perfection).

And a great actress to boot.

But, did I love the film...well, no.

Not exactly.

It was farrrrrr too reliant upon CGI effects for my personal taste.

But it had it's moments.

As an Evil Dead fanatic, I particularly appreciated the influence he took from that series.

And I've got to give him credit for casting the right actress for the main role.

But it isn't enough to save the film from how dumb it really is.

Though...perhaps that was what he was going for.

3 out of 10.