MovieChat Forums > Hesher (2011) Discussion > Totally didn't get this movie...

Totally didn't get this movie...

posted 10 years ago by laplante-co-672-297856
3 replies | jump to latest

This movie is essentially a re-working of Bad Santa...

Loathsome character meets screwed up kid, moves in with his family and -- in a roundabout weird way -- sorta helps the kid deal with his issues.

That said, my wife and I thought this sucked. Nothing to do with JGL who makes the best of his role... it's just that the story was confusing and lame.

For example:

Hesher moves in with this family. Except for the kid, nobody much acknowledges him or questions his presence. (Done in Bad Santa as well...) Like a lot of people I initially thought he was an imaginary character which might have been interesting... but turned out not to be.

Like Billie Bob Thornton's character, Hesher is essentially unlikable. At least BBT was periodically funny... Hesher is just an unfunny a$$h0le and a psycho.

The final funeral scene was just bizarre. "On account of my stupidity, I lost my nut and, hey, that's sorta like losing the people you love. What say we take this casket out for a spin?"

The family's redemption at the end -- like the weird funeral scene above and the crushed hunk of car in the driveway is supposed to be cathartic somehow?!

Both Natalie Portman and the kid were horribly bland... at one point, I was thinking "Hey, this conversation reminds me of Napoleon Dynamite... but not funny or interesting..."

Consider me a contrarian... this movie was a dud...

[–] detour1945 10 years ago

Just watched this film for the first time. I haven't seen either BAD SANTA or NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, so can't comment on comparisons to those two films.

I thought the acting was solid, from all the main cast members. Kid actors are always hit-or-miss, and I felt Devin Brochu did a great job in his role.

No one questions Hesher's presence in the house because they are dealing with other issues, the father his crippling grief over the loss of his wife, and the grandmother is dealing with not only that, but her own terminal illness.

As for the "lost nut" scene, I came away from that with the feeling that Hesher was saying to TJ and his father, "You've lost a mother, but you still have a father, and you've lost a wife, but you still have a son."

I found the "casket walking" scene to be cathartic for the characters, and touching to watch. They were taking that last opportunity to do something with someone the love. A chance that was snatched away from them when their wife/mother was killed.

That's what I took from the film and enjoyed it.

But, I do agree about Natalie Portman's role, in the end I found it a little underwritten and her performance a bit bland.

[–] mcantelon 9 years ago

I thought this movie missed the mark as well. Gordon-Levitt's acting was great, but the plot was kind of rough and the ending seemed hollow.

[–] deejus 9 years ago

I've seen all of the films mentioned... This is hands down better than Bad Santa.

There is a Japanese film called Visitor Q which Hesher kinda reminds me off. Its a lot darker but amazing. I like Hesher a lot!