Swiss Army Man (2016) Film Review

Where does one even begin when detailing a film that's predominately known by any who are aware of its existence as the "Daniel Radcliffe farting movie"? Its alienating appearance as an absurd feature has been the question of many a critic since its Sundance Film Festival premiere back in January (where many critics walked out due to how weird it is at the outset), and its public appearances onto the world wide web has made people both perplexed and intrigued. But perhaps what makes the whole idea interesting is the presence of Daniel Radcliffe, who continues to make interesting post-Harry Potter casting decisions in the form of What If?, The Woman in Black and Horns, as the Swiss Army Man in question. It's impressive to see an actor which a long-lasting franchise on his shoulders continue to shave away any suggestions of him being only the Boy Wizard, but to the extremes that this film consists of, it begs the question of whether it was a wise move for the flourishing Brit. Then again, didn't his Potter co-star Rupert Grint appear in Thunderpants? 

Paul Dano plays Hank, who when we first see him is contemplating the sweet release of death on a marooned island. He's a mere step away from committing the deed when he spots a man (Radcliffe) lying on the seashore, unmoving. Hank immediately tries to save the poor man's life, until he notices that the corpse is spewing out gas – making for an elaborate way of getting off said island by using the overly gaseous body as a form of jet ski (you can see why people walked out now, can't you?). As time goes by, Hank finds a few other good uses for the cadaver, and as though by magic or by the extreme care that's been given the man begin to talk. From here on out, Hank and the newly-named Manny grow an unusual friendship, as Hank teaches Manny what it means to be alive while Manny's bizarre 'mannerisms' help guide their way back to civilisation.

Once you get past the most strange moment in the opening and the slow-going first steps with just Dano, the journey itself makes for a truly immersive, human, and at times hilarious story about the bond between two men – the socially awkward loner and the motionless carcass that he brings along. While most will likely bring Cast Away to mind, it's instead a much more profound and dare I say creative approach to the simple 'lost man' premise, not least because Wilson the ball is instead a sentient stiff who gets stiff sometimes. But that all being said, and despite a deep and meaningful screenplay by directors Daniel Kwan and Scheinet, what puts the film on a lower level quality to plenty of other films in the same vein (Room best comes to mind in terms of an explorative journey into society) with its disappointing final few minutes. Naturally, the film was meant to end with a certain situation, but the way it's executed and explored leaves much more to be desired, not to mention its somewhat dreariness towards topics that were explored in detail for the majority of the movie. It makes such a fulfilling diminish under its own weight – saving its dead weight for the end, so to speak.

Carrying most of the movie – metaphorically and literally – is Paul Dano; an actor who’s often forgotten about by the mainstream despite the likes of Love and Mercy and Prisoners. When you consider that he spends a lot of the time talking to either himself or a lifeless co-star, he brings about his all in a role which other actors may have overacted or underperformed. Even when things get weird like dressing in drag or helping his carrion get an erection (seriously, it's a major part of the story), he keeps it straight-faced and has fun when he can. Daniel Radcliffe, in the meantime, continues to thrive in his motionless performance that takes an awful lot of effort to perfect. Being used as an object for nearly the entire picture is a daunting task, and with that and his distinctive speech handicap (in that he can barely open his own mouth) creates a living representation of a lifeless form. Outside of the main two, there's also minor appearances from Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who does well with the limited amount she's given.

The directing duo known simply as the Daniels are perhaps best known for their work on music videos such as "Turn Down for What" and their numerous short films, and what they bring to the table here is some beautiful work. Whether it be of their own design or the cinematography of Larkin Seiple, each shot gets a good grasp of the beach and forest environments or even the occasional glimpses of actual society. Teamed together with a superb vocal score by Andy Hal & Robert McDowell – reportedly made before the film even began shooting - and it creates a masterful-looking movie.

Swiss Army Man is a film that I struggle to decide with whether it's great or excellent. On one hand, it has two strong actors at the helm in the form of Dano and Radcliffe, and the overall story feels so inherently human and alive for a film that involves a corpse being used as a harpoon or a sea-doo, but the film ultimately fails to find a satisfying conclusion in what seems to be a failed attempt at creating something cheerful instead of ambiguous like it probably should have been. It's somewhat frustrating that what stops this film from being a true great and one of 2016's best movies (it's certainly one of its best original works) was a middling finale – but at least the journey there was filled with laughs and love. 8/10.