Linoleum

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source: Linoleum

Cameron Edwin (Jim Gaffigan) hosts a kids science show, but it airs at midnight on local TV. His wife (Rhea Seehorn) is pushing him to complete their divorce. A doppelganger takes over his work. His rebellious daughter Nora (Katelyn Nacon) falls for the new guy Marc (Gabriel Rush) at school, the son of the doppelganger. Cameron's father always told him that people are either astronomers or astronauts. After various strange events and losing his show, he decides to be an astronaut. This reminds me of Donnie Darko without the dark tones. The tone is lighter surrealism and Gaffigan has his usual likeable nature. Writer/director Colin West is playing with a lot of different elements and the ending takes it to a whole new level. Some people may get lost before the ending. It's not confusing, but some may lose interest as the movie keeps slow playing the concept. It refuses to explain the weird incongruities. I do have a different idea about the rocket. It really should be a Halloween decoration when they were teenagers and it could tie in with the ambulance. My big idea would be connecting their first kiss on the rocket with their last kiss in the ambulance. I also have an issue with the car crash. It's a weird thing to do for the father. I've never seen a Colin West film, but I will be looking out for his name in the future.

So, without giving any specifics of the plot away, the movie would rate probably a 6 or 7 if not for the fact that the writers just HAD to include current year plot points for LITERALLY no reason at all whatsoever. The teenage girl CLAIMS to be lesbian, even though there is not a single thing in the movie that affirms that assertion, including the ending, nor the story line itself. The teenage boy apparently likes to wear girls panties, which has literally NO reason for being a plot point in this movie with the sole exception of a single photo op. When I say literally, I am using the original definition of that word, not the "o.m.g. I'm literally going to die if I don't get those concert tickets" meaning. The only reason for thee two story arcs is literally just to check the appropriate boxes. Oh, and how could I forget the required "Christian parent is a monster" story line? I mean... What current movie would be complete without dragging Christianity through the mud? Amirite? I'm not even going to bother giving you the reasons you might WANT to watch this. If you want those reasons, read what someone else might have to say. If the plot points I've laid out here are not enough to steer you clear of this movie, you'll probably enjoy it.

To write a full interpretation of this movie would be as thick as the encyclopedia Britannica. So a review will have to do. The amount of layers to peel back is unbelievable. Without spoiling anything, the movie absolutely challenges your brain to work things out and we have no choice but to try and make sense of it. By the end of the movie your mind is desperately trying to piece together the movie bit by bit to make sense of if all. Or maybe like one of the movies core themes: it's just not that simple. Oh if only. To say this movie has one of the craziest twist endings of all time, would be a cruel understatement.

Linoleum starts off as a quirky little indie comedy about a nice guy whose life isn't going so well and he gets an idea to build a rocket. There are all sorts of goofy confusing things happening and a few things that outright make no sense...until they do. The movie blindsided me with a hard turn towards the end that not only explained everything I didn't understand, but wrapped it all up into a neat package. Jim Gaffigan was excellent! I was particularly impressed with the second character he played, who was more outside of his wheelhouse. He almost could have been mistaken for Ned Beatty at moments. Gabriel Rush is becoming a fine young actor. Rhea Seehorn is good, but she needs to break out from that career oriented woman role she always plays. The overall look and feel of the movie was just right. I'll be keep an eye out for this director. I may be a little be generous with an 8, but I'm rounding up.

source: Linoleum

It's a odd movie, they are an odd couple with an odd relationship to each other and their kids...I'm not sure what they are trying to do with it and what they are getting at. But there's 10 minutes left and they are trying to slow mo everything together to make sense. The acting is great, real solid. Nicely shot, it starts brilliantly and is a steady plod but does it really lead anywhere? I suppose it's about death and whether you have furfilled your dreams, your destiny. Nope, I'm confused, I don't know whos who and who's doing what in this last 10 minutes so my score has reflected that because quite frankly after this ending I don't know what I've been watching!