Futile Attraction Review

I attempted to comment on the movie in the proper section, but it appears to never have made it to the website. I'll try sharing my thoughts in the Message Board instead. :)

Futile Attraction is a wonderfully off-beat comedy. It is like a breath of fresh air in the stagnant world of predictable Hollywood plot scenarios. The humor has several levels, ranging from rather subtle verbal acrobatics to classic slapstick (if you’re paying attention.)

It is set in Wellington, New Zealand and revolves around a film crew in the process of filming a documentary about the clients of a dating service. The filmmakers pick a random man for a pre-selected woman and film their interaction over the course of the relationship. The chosen couple is extremely mismatched, which places them in a variety of humorous situations.

There are many great subplots going on throughout the movie. In any given scene there may be two, three, or more, side stories going on at one time. In one instance there could be a conversation between Randal and Germaine (the random man and pre-selected woman), but also a side conversation with the film crew, Dudley & Anne (the presenter and director) bickering, the tribulations of Randal’s geeky flatmates’, and a hilarious background story about a ‘mystery couple’ who began dating the same time as Randal and Germaine.

I have to say that the ‘mystery couple’s storyline is one of my favorite aspects of the movie. Their interaction is played out completely in the background and without any dialogue. If you do see the movie, be sure to watch for the couple in the ‘restaurant scene’. Their interaction with the restaurant employees may have you rolling around the floor with laughter.

Another attribute of the movie that I enjoy greatly is the dialogue between Oscar and Ian (Randal’s geeky flatmates.) Being an admitted Sci-Fi geek myself, the subtle puns regarding a ‘real time depression-era’ computer game and various Star Trek references are classic. But worry not; you don’t need to be a geek to find Oscar and Ian’s antics suitably amusing.

I purchased my copy of Futile Attraction in November, as it was just released outside of New Zealand. I find it remarkable that Mark Prebble was able to complete his movie with the help of Internet donations. Read more about the background story of Futile Attraction (and get yourself a copy) here – www.makemarksmovie.com.

I first read about Futile Attraction on a forum that I post on regularly. A fellow forum member told me about it and referred me to the above website. I liked what I read regarding the premise of the movie and was intrigued by the creative method of completion. When it became available for purchase I promptly bought myself a copy. I didn’t really know what to expect from the movie, but wanted to support this small independent feature. I was not disappointed. If you are into off-beat comedy, this is a great movie for you. I highly recommended it.