Too much of everything

The Age of Commercialism

Memorable, crazy movie

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Only a quick one but, where were the jokes. This was a great movie but a non comedic comedy, with a dip in the middle but just, where were the jokes. Genuinely.

Watching people being ridiculously bored have never been as funny... Or has it? Or wait... Is this even funny at all? Is it supposed to be?Needless to say, this is not your typical laugh by the minute comedy... I think it's meant as a comedy, cause it's hardly dramatic... Dark or/and dry comedy perhaps... Anyway, I get what the movie is trying to say and I think the message is a good one.I just don't care much for how it was said, and I don't think it has enough substance to fill out the 90 minute running time.Not terrible, but really not that great either.

Let's say I did not expect this movie to be that simple and true. And yet rich, with so many ways people can go wrong. You can even read the scenario your own way, somehow. Imagine it if it stretched endlessly instead of being forced into less than two hours. And you would see what your life could become if you don't pay attention...so true...it did surprise me, and there are unfinished moments, some moments in which the "resolution" hangs in the air, and you fill in with your own end to the moment, and then see that the movie turns another way instead...it could have been done in an even more "true" way though, especially more on the "dream" side, which seems kind of empty...even though it's there!

This quite a good film and it is very unfortunate that it's been so underrated and not well known. The film revolves around the efforts of a very mediocre, average and silent man to avoid being overcome by stress. To make things even more "stressful" the film takes place in an alternate universe where people literally explode when they are unhappy and stressed. Things such as having dreams and being different are discouraged, since scientists don't know what exactly leads to spontaneous explosions but they suspect that these are underlying causes. In fact, if you have dreams, it's advised to visit a doctor immediately.The film tries to impress the message of how disgustingly repressing and sad are our lives in a corporate capitalist system such as exists in the US today, how marriages that shouldn't have happened for the sake of marrying someone and that lack communication are basically uncomfortable space sharing, how driving an expensive boat and car is meaningless and how therapy sessions, books and TV shows that try to teach you how to be happy are poor prescriptions to tolerable living.The film also shows how the opposition of this lifestyle as exists today is not a rebellion but a mere conformity. The film argues that people who try to live alternative lifestyles, such as hippies, are nothing more than people trying to escape the system by alternative forms of entertainment, other than just watching TV like the rest of the "normal" people do. In essence, they are doing nothing to fix the situation, but they merely try to make it tolerable to themselves by pretending to be children again.There is also a comment to be made about the urbanization of the countryside and natural environment.The main message of the film is the death of dreams and emotions that we suffer in order to enter this kind of society and how the human psyche is tormented to the point of numbing itself and thinking that things such as money, success in the workplace and attractiveness are the symbol of happiness. A human in this system becomes so twisted that he desperately tries to convert anyone not in the system to follow this repressing lifestyle.I did not expect such an excellent film by these two young creators. Also Zach Galifanakis is excellent in his role. It might seem quite easy to act like he does, but the feeling of sadness and repression he conveys is absolutely spot-on. Indeed, a great film if you are in the mood for some philosophical cinema.