MovieChat Forums > The Puffy Chair (2007) Discussion > Truly horrific.

Truly horrific.

posted 15 years ago by jtmoney50
11 replies | jump to latest

Let me prefix this by saying that I rented this movie based on the 'QuIRKY INDie MovIE' looking cover and the numerous festival wins and Ebert & Roeper '2 Thumbs Up!' recommendation. Let me tell you that this was by far one of the worst movies I have ever had the displeasure of sitting through. I was willing to look past the brutal camera work and horrible cinema-verte lighting style, and the horrible excuses for locations, and the god awful non-existant plot. But seriously, what did me in was the characters. The complete lack of likeability in any of them. I truly did not give a *beep* what happened to any of them. Quite honestly if the van had burst into flames and flown off a cliff, killing all of them I would not have given a damn. In fact, it may have made for a better film. Why was the beardo guy trying so hard to be deep? Why was he filming lizards when they pulled up? Why in the hell would anyone think a 30 second video of a lizard would be a good gift? Why the *beep* did the chair matter? Why did any of the things that happened within this film matter? Why didn't that guy want to reupholster the stupid chair? What was with the movie theater scene?

Literally nothing about this film was compelling in any way. Then, after suffering through the horrible baby talk and strange, awkwardly acted relationship between the two 'lovers'. They break up. That was the climax. Two people in a horrible relationship breaking up after absolutely nothing happening for an hour and a half of painful, painful movie viewing.

I really did enjoy how there was a gaffer/boom operator and a director/camera operator who was related to the producer/writer/lead actor, and the film was financed by their parents. I guess its kind of good that movies of such a small caliber can obtain large distributors. But seriously. Bad, bad , bad, bad.

[–] planetShhhh 15 years ago

For the record I thought the film was moving and funny at times but felt it did drag but it will definitely stay with me

I already started a topic in response to the type of posts above but really feel another post is necessary

Firstly, you wanted to rent a quirky film but when the quirkiness wasn't to your liking you felt let down. Fair enough if you didn't like it but it seems you missed the point completely. Your reasons don't add up.

These 'mumblecore' indie lo-budget films are usually quite autobiographical, indeed the writer was the lead role and the director his brother with friends and family involved.

So you're commenting on a film about how a group of people experience life and if that means up and down relationships, strange character motivations, quirky humour, baby voices, puffy chairs, lack of meaning - then that is their life.

Come to think of it unless you're really amazing that is most peoples lives.

It doesn't make sense, people do silly things, sometimes they do really sweet things, sometimes it doesn't end with the guy getting the girl, marriage exists, divorce exists, people don't ride off into the sunset etc etc.

Sorry if this sounds patronising but c'mon did you expect it be black and white, good vs. evil, happy ending guaranteed.

Go rent a Disney film next time

[–] doggie_rodriguez 8 years ago

Firstly, you wanted to rent a quirky film but when the quirkiness wasn't to your liking you felt let down. Fair enough if you didn't like it but it seems you missed the point completely.

He wanted quirky, not boring. There was hidden "point" to miss. This film wasn't that deep. To say that it was is a bit misleading. Unless you are one of those people that has to pretend something is deep to feel "smarter" than everyone else.

Your reasons don't add up.

His reasons added up perfectly. He wanted to give a low budget indie film a chance. Thought it was boring and didn't go anywhere (which even you admitted "it did drag").

Come to think of it unless you're really amazing that is most peoples lives.

Yeah, but most people aren't so narcissistic that they feel they need movies made out of their boring lives.

Sorry if this sounds patronising but c'mon did you expect it be black and white, good vs. evil, happy ending guaranteed.

I think he just expected it not to suck.

Go rent a Disney film next time

Yes, he doesn't like the same things you do so that's obviously a character flaw on his part. 

[–] MikeyBabyBooBop 15 years ago

i found it quite different. good. endearing.

- dying ain't much of a living -

[–] PrimordialDreamer 13 years ago

Spot on, I completely agree. It was just a boring film with characters I didn`t give a toss about. It should`ve been a short film or they could at least have thrown some aliens in there or done something completely random to spice this dull film up.

If you keep an open mind, you`ll discover dark secrets.

[–] 4cSlater 13 years ago

oh i agree-ish. this movie is only great in the context of its 24,000 dollar budget. it doesnt hold up when u take it out of its indie market.
If you wanna see a 'relationship' movie you can't beat All the real girls. But even that was made on a budget of 2.5 million.
I quite enjoyed the second half though more than i enjoyed a second of say - clash of the titans! so i really dont see how anyone can get worked up over a mediocre film made for 24,000 when there is endless crap out there made for 200 million.

save the world recycle urself

[–] jagheterjack00 13 years ago

24K??? What in the hell was the remaining 20K spent on?!

[–] giantpanther 13 years ago

haha, i agree completely, this movie is so horrible I cant even fathom how it got released, i guess it could serve as like a motivation for other filmmakers who think oh no i cant make a film it would just suck, then they see this and they go oh i guess i could probably make a film, i mean if a home movie with horrible characters can pass for art then really anyone has a shot. if ever there was an example of critics liking low budget movies that suck just because they have a low budget THIS IS IT.

[–] RandomNameForMe 12 years ago

I loved it, Obviously it's very very verrry low budget and i think that's why some people are put off by it, I can understand why some people don't like it but there's something about it that i like. 'QuIRKY INDie MovIE' as you say maybe

[–] doggie_rodriguez 8 years ago

The budget didn't bother me at all. It was the complete lack of likable characters and plot that ruined this film for me.

If you have very little money to make a film it is absolutely vital that you have likable characters. I can accept low picture and sound quality. Hell, I can even accept bad actors, but I cannot get past bad writing and unlikable characters. I have to care what happens to them.

[–] GuyOnTheLeft 9 years ago

I neither loved nor hated this film (6/10 for me, three out of five stars on Netflix) but I'm surprised one of your complaints was:

the horrible baby talk and strange, awkwardly acted relationship between the two 'lovers'

I thought this was a strong point of the movie. It's a realistic way a lot of insecure people act in relationships, and was one of the reasons their breaking up in the end was the right conclusion. But this is not something you usually see portrayed in cinema, so that is valuable in itself.

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My top 250: http://www.flickchart.com/Charts.aspx?user=SlackerInc&perpage=250

[–] doggie_rodriguez 8 years ago

Why was he filming lizards when they pulled up? Why in the hell would anyone think a 30 second video of a lizard would be a good gift?

I don't know. This is where they started to lose me.