Eagle vs. Shark

Brilliant Script
Lilly (Loren Horsley) works in a fast food restaurant and garners the respect of no one. But she takes it on the chin and remains curiously sweet. She's got a crush on Jarrod, a narcissist geek with a horrible mullet played by Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords fame. Jarrod and Lilly hook up at a party one night. (Do you want to have sex? OK.) Jarrod has a mission-to crush a samoan lad who tortured him in school. He returns home to fight his nemesis. I won't give it away, but the ending to this movie had me laughing hysterically. This is a completely original script absent banal comedy and full of emotional depth. You won't see films like this coming out of Hollywood these days. Thank you Taika and the NZ Film Commission.

Many people have compared Eagle to Napoleon Dynamite, but I find the comparison lacking. Yes, Lily and Jarrod are geeks, but the similarities with Napoleon end there. This isn't a geek revenge movie though the plot may seem like that on the face...

Stop Calling Samoa and Watch this Film!
Being a torturously huge fan of Flight of the Conchords, and Jemaine Clement, I looked forward to this film with a jubilant anticipation I haven't felt since high school. Since my love is full-on, I didn't give much thought to the actual content of Eagle vs. Shark before sitting down to view it. I was deeply surprised at the emotional depth of the story and the pronounced portrayal of the characters. Lily's yearning angst and Jarrod's tenderly obnoxious pain was palatable. I still feel the lump of wax in my chest (perhaps Jarrod, using his noble skills, could create a candle with it!). The hilarity here is fulfilling, as well. Taika Waititi doesn't take you on the predictable path of the lonely losers attempting to find solace in their absurd-yet-natural, brutal world. These twists and unexpected subtleties bring out some eye-bugging, ankle-hugging laughter. This film can hold it's own in any venue, with men and women, chicks and dudes, whether or not you've any knowledge of Clement's...

Justice Is Waiting!
This is a sweet little movie starring JEMAINE CLEMENT (of Flight of the Conchords fame) and LOREN HORSLEY (of...being Taika Waititi's girlfriend fame?). Not sure why Amazon doesn't have them listed anywhere as the stars...

The film follows Jarrod (Clement) and Lily's (Horsley) budding romance, from her crush on him as she works at a fast food restaurant he frequents, to their hook-up at a dress-as-your-favorite animal party, to visiting his hometown as he takes revenge on someone who bullied him in school. They are unlikely soul mates, bonded by similar facial moles.

The film includes beautiful shots of the New Zealand coast, a little stop-action animation, and Clement sporting a really choice mullet! Like a lot of stuff that has been coming out of New Zealand lately, it is heavy on the quirk but also has some funny and heartfelt moments. And fans of Clement will enjoy a scene in which he is wearing a Speedo.

You WILL call all of your enemies...

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