Infinity Baby

This movie does a great job at balancing absurdist comedy with thought-provoking social commentary. The subject matter explores a near-future society that parodies many highly criticized aspects of our modern world: laziness, mindless subscription, shallowness, etc. However, you won't get bogged down in pressing social messages, it's just really funny. The world is heightened by intriguing cinematography taken from locations in Austin, TX. Great performances from everyone on board, especially Megan Mullally who really shines here. Nick Offerman is hilarious as well, as always.

This is not necessarily a laugh-out-loud comedy (save for a few moments), but it made for a really entertaining watch. The intriguing premise sets up a quirky, unique world with fascinating and memorable characters. Most viewers were probably drawn to this film because of Nick Offerman, and he did a fabulous job, but the other actors embody their characters so well that Offerman's isn't even the best performance. The writing of this film is great, always pushing the story to exciting and unexpected places. Dialogue was hilarious. I particularly loved the storyline with Kieran Culkin's character Ben, which got better and better as more information was revealed about Ben. I can't think of anything bad to say about this movie. If you're into simple, low-budget indie films, give this one a shot!

The ending is worth the wait. But, you must endure a bleak depiction of the 21st century dating scene, and a story line that questions the motives of those who have kids for the wrong reasons. A good question, just a little awkwardly put forth. While the movie is a 7, the ending is a 9.

I really liked Infinity Baby. After reading that it opened to uproarious laughs, I found the humor somewhat quieter than I was expecting. That said, I saw it in the afternoon on a weekday at SFIFF, so we were probably a less lubricated, tamer crowd.

Kieran Culkin as Ben is great, and every woman in the cast gives a stand-out performance. One of the best tricks of the film is how we watch Trieste Kelly Dunn's character Allison through Ben's warped perspective, and then later see her personality re-framed more objectively. This is in part, thanks to Dunn's acting, though I'm sure it's also in the direction. Having seen it only once, I can't put my finger on how the shift is so palpably realized, but it's fantastic. I'm pretty sure there's no sound effect of a record screeching to a halt in the soundtrack, but that's the feeling that is captured during that scene.

After an intentionally-predictable (and perfect) plot twist, the film hits its stride both in terms of humor and its hints at depth, but then it ends, sooner than you'll want it to. It makes sense that the laughs would build once we're familiar with the world of the movie, but I'm not sure the depth felt earned or explored as much as it could have been.

Nick Offerman is a lovable actor, and while I love watching him as Neo, it also felt to me like he was being brandished like a secret weapon, when this movie didn't need a secret weapon. Everything and everyone around him in Infinity Baby is already strong and held more surprise.

After the screening, I waited in line for the restroom and a man (whom I later confirmed was the critic for Variety) asked me skeptically, "Did you get something from that?" I said an agnostic "I did, yes." He said that the movies make him laugh a bit but don't amount to anything for him. I felt a little tongue-tied, and conveniently the restroom became available just then, so I said "I have many thoughts about this, but I'm going to go to the restroom now."

The main thought I opted not to share with the critic is that my review is biased by an unwieldy crush I have on Bob Byington, whom I met by happenstance last November before I'd ever seen any of his movies.

The unique premise of babies that don't age is an interesting side plot to provide an effective allegory for the main plot. The performances from the ensemble cast are appropriately dry and very entertaining and the cinematography adds a lot to the quirky yet formal tone. I would recommend this film to anyone in the mood to think. This film is a slow burn, but a very good, very effective slow burn.