Funny Pages, 2022.
Written and Directed by Owen Kline.
Starring Daniel Zolghadri, Matthew Maher, Miles Emanuel, Josh Pais, Maria Dizzia, Marcia DeBonis, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Michael Townsend Wright, Cleveland Thomas Jr, Rob M. Anderson, Andy Milonakis, Louise Lasser, and Ron Rifkin.
SYNOPSIS:
A bitingly funny coming-of-age story of a teenage cartoonist who rejects the comforts of his suburban life in a misguided quest for soul.
One has to wonder just how personal the themes of artistic expression, mentorship, and independence in Funny Pages are to writer/director and, yes, cartoonist (just like protagonist here) Owen Kline, the son of famous actor Kevin Kline.
Funny Pages centers on middle-class suburban teenager Robert (Daniel Zolghadri, somehow easy to invest in and root for, even upon realizing he is a spoiled brat), an aspiring cartoonist under tutelage from a high school art teacher (Stephen Adly Guirgis) who he appears to have a great deal of respect for. Without getting into specifics (much of what transpires here is unpredictable in a darkly comedic fashion), the dynamic between them quickly becomes as uncomfortably humorous as it does tragic.
It’s a shame that Funny Pages doesn’t necessarily further interrogate the cause for concern of this mentor/pupil friendship, but it still lingers in Roberts’s mind. Nevertheless, such a crazy night leads the 17-year-old to a bold decision; quitting school, giving up on college, and moving away to a filthy, slumped apartment basement where he can focus on his drawings and making a name for himself.
By extension, it’s also easy to buy into that Owen Kline either went through something similar with his work as a cartoonist or wants to follow a similar path in Hollywood without falling back on nepotism (overlooking the production credits of Uncut Gems directorial siblings Josh and Benny Safdie, who aren’t exactly rich off of their work yet anyway).
Whether one finds this line between reality and fiction intriguing or not, Funny Pages also succeeds due to its subversive, upside-down underdog story filled with shady supporting characters that all seem to have taken a bath in grease and sweat before getting lathered up in make-up designed to give them a repellent appearance. Look at every cast member in comparison to how they look in this movie; its night and day appeal lends an ickiness to the situational humor. There’s also a graininess to the photography that makes one feel like they could be watching a movie set decades ago, aligning (including some nostalgic laughs from props like a Super Mario hat that looks like it has never been washed) with what seems to be an early 2000s setting.
Robert becomes employed by a lawyer (Marcia DeBonis), navigates a tumultuous friendship like an insulting jackass to his best friend Miles (Miles Emanuel, caked in excessive acne for visual effect), and finds himself in awkward encounters with his roommate (who is doubly uncomfortable considering the limited, tiny space), and befriends a former colorist in the mentally unstable Wallace (a riotous Matthew Maher), who has a physical beef with his local pharmacist, is dripping with anxiety while simultaneously saying whatever inappropriate thing is on his mind, and has no interest in offering Robert lessons unless there is a hefty payout.
It’s mostly left up to the viewer to dig into this juxtaposition between mentors and the debate between art for soul and commerce. However, Funny Pages concludes with an absurd third act that is a wild hoot (although it doesn’t neatly tie everything together). When the story lacks substance and feels stagnant, the grotesque flair moderately carries the experience. The script sure had some funny pages, as this is a winning, off-kilter debut from Owen Kline.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
