I Heart Huckabees

It's taken me some time to get to this review. I just don't know how to describe this film. In one sense, it's a straight drama. In another, it's a thought piece sorta like Eternal Sunshine. In yet another, it's a mystery, although in a dramatic, thought-provoking manner. OK, I give up -- it's a film on many levels. David O. Russell gets the prize as the most scattered (and antagonistic) director, and it's hard to believe he can put together so coherent a film. It revolves around a number of very different characters -- the poet turned environmental activist, the perfect company man, the existential detectives themselves (Lily Tomlin and Dustin Hoffman), a competing existential analyst, a tormented firefighter, a beautiful model. You wouldn't think these people have anything in common but that's where Russell's style worked for me. They discuss their life issues with each other (and I mean "why are we here" type issues) until you understand that everyone has the same life issues, in the long run. Some of the scenes are painful to watch, such as when the parents of the poet/activist are confronted by the existential analyst. Some of the childhood anaylsis that ensues hit me hard in the solar plexus. But most of it is funny. Mark Wahlberg getting hit repeatedly in the face with a big rubber ball can only be funny. If there's a false note, it's Jude Law's American accent, which sounds too contrived. Otherwise, he, and the rest of the actors, are marvelous. It's not possible to offer more of a storyline, suffice it to say that there is one and you will be rewarded for paying close attention.

year: 2004
length: 106 min.
rating: 4.0
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0356721/combined