an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

James Franco plays Harry, a struggling writer who leaves his wife and child to pursue his novel-writing career. But he finds the apartment comes with a surprise: he must take care of the previous owner's ape. Soon, his marriage, job and mental stability begin to crumble and he has nothing left but the ape.This film screams "independent film channel" by the way it was filmed. I don't know what it is specifically, other than it being independent, but it has that college feel that will only really make certain people happy. It made me happy, though it's far from the best indie film I've ever seen.James Franco, who everyone except me knows from "Spider-Man", is amazing: writing, directing and acting in this little piece. I think the writing was exceptional, with lots of good dialog, some unusual Dostoevsky references (which never get explained) and some good jokes, too. I really couldn't stop laughing about the whole "RedezJew" website. I don't think it was supposed to be so funny, but it was.I also really liked the SMAD personality test (Social, Martyr, Ambitious, Dependable). The conversation about who is a "social" and who is "ambitious" really has connotations beyond this film. Dependable and martyr are never explored, which is too bad -- I would love to know what they consider a martyr to be.The obvious complaint would be the horrible gorilla costume. It's not even a very good costume. But, it also becomes clear that the creators (Franco?) didn't care. You can see through the eye holes, and sometimes it's very amusing. And you know what? It works. If a movie tries to be serious and gives you this, they don't deserve any respect. But to be so blunt about their cheapness makes it alright. (Compare this to Teen Ape from "Filthy McNasty" -- that costume is even worse, but makes sense for the film.) The ending was a little abrupt. Just as we begin to explore Franco's mind, it comes crashing down. I can't say exactly how (because that would be a spoiler), but so many questions went unanswered and they simply cannot be figured out with multiple viewings. In this respect, the writing was not so good -- unless the point was to keep us wondering, but I doubt that.If you can find this film (it's hard, I've tried) you should check it out. May not be your cup of tea, but it's probably different from everything else you've ever seen. It's a good parable of what happens when ambitions swell up inside a man with no capabilities of pulling off his dreams. It's a pessimism piece, and we need more of those -- this world's just too happy sometimes.

A comic gem, tongue-in-cheek, dark, humorously constructed. I don't even like James Franco but this film changes everything. He's high in half of the scenes (you think I'm kidding? he is literally stoned in at least 2 i distinctly remember...you know red swollen eyes and all that) not every movie is the Godfather, not every movie needs to be. not every comedy needs to be Annie Hall, i'd watch this 1000 times before i'd ever watch Date Movie, Scary Movie, Epic Movie, Buddy Comedy Movie, Adventure Movie, Porn Spoof Movie, any of those Wayans brothers or Rob Schneider or David Spade vehicles...it's legitimately hilarious and it doesn't retard its audience (okay so there is a feces-throwing scene, but it's about an ape, that's inevitable) also the whole thing with him being an "ARTISTE!" it's brilliant...James Franco: A+ friend Bravo.

Sadly, quite possibly the worst movie I've ever seen. How it got made is beyond me. Atrocious idea, Hideous execution... The acting is pretty awful. James Franco spends half the movie with his eyes closed, hopefully trying to erase the whole experience and idea from his mind (unfortunately, it's impossible for the viewer). This movie feels very home made, with poor camera angles. There are a few pretty funny lines and one scene even manages to be downright hilarious. But it's not enough to save this work of 'art.' For a movie so obsessed with creating art, it's beyond me how Mr. Franco could honestly give this to the movie going (renting, actually, as I don't believe it ever went to theatres.. Not really a shocker) public. James Franco seriously needs to redeem himself somehow after this heinous contribution to the cinema canon. And I'm (maybe I was? I was so appalled by this movie that I'm not sure anymore) a fan of his. Do NOT rent this.

I am so sorry, but James Franco should start looking for a career in renting movies for people rather than making them. The plot was awful, but not as bad as the acting. SPOILER ALERT: The "Ape" was actually a guy in a really BAD gorilla mask, although I have to admit I did get a pretty good laugh every time the Ape sat next to a lamp or a wall and turned his head so you could see the empty eye sockets. Even better was the mouth of the mask that just gaped open and was hanging at an angle to one side. It looked like the Ape mask was recovering from a stroke. I had a field-day with this movie picking out all the mistaken cameramen caught in a reflection or the cameraman going through the DT's. Which reminds me, was this James Franco's "acting" or was he just constantly high. I wonder what their budget was for the wardrobe, the apartment, office area, and props like fake feces or extra gorilla hair ????? I guess the budget couldn't afford a tripod. My theory is this movie is so deep it's gonna take me awhile to GET IT....... I think.