Fear Anxiety and Depression

Tod Solondz obviously had seen at least a bunch of Woody Allen comedies before 1989 when "Fear, Anxiety, and Depression" was released. His hapless Ira mirrors any number of inept Allen characters. Even Woody's familiar theme of rejection pervades this film. Chase women and they will run, run from women and they will chase is the basic story being told. The characters, including a successful writer played with gusto by Stanley Tucci, are almost all colorful, and the acting is good. What eventually drags the film down is Solondz coming across as more of a caricature of Woody Allen rather than a unique character that could stand on it's own. - MERK

I presume the schlockiness is intentional. It is very well-executed schlockiness. The archetypes are conventionally but very truthfully drawn: clinging desperate girlfriend, dangerous girlfriend, "best friend's girl" girlfriend, the commercially successful classmate from your old high school, the using "best friend".

The style of the movie is bizarre. The New York pictures are well-chosen for the flavor of the movie. The music often clashes with the action or the visual dynamic in a way that seems deliberate. It doesn't result in the Knowing Guffaw, or the Delighted Titter, but it just seems to lay the scene out stiff, like the way you feel when you're out for dinner with your parents at a place you now know is beneath you and your aspirations (a scenario which recurs at comforting intervals during the picture) -- this is a fine depiction of "spinning your wheels" during your inept and misguided 20s. I don't know a lot about this writer/director and his work (I live in a cinematically-challenged area) but if he meant it the way it came out, he's really reaching me.

There are "musical interludes" so artfully awkward. The "Ay-yi-yi-ra" song is a special treat. The movie is cloyingly awkward, but the result is so off-beat, so "am I really seeing this?" that I couldn't stop watching. I would really like everyone I know to see the "performance artist girlfriend" 'cause I'm amazed at her make-up technique, and her hair-doos.

Too bad the credits for this movie on this site are so sparse.

I am a big fan of both WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE and HAPPINESS, and didn't even know this movie existed until it was shown recently on the "Romance Classics" cable channel, of all places. (The only "star" acknowledged in the channel listing was Stanley Tucci, who does have a small supporting role.) This film tries too hard to be a wacky look at love for a loser (played by Solondz), and I found its wackiness to be both forced and intrusive. While it does contain some of the elements that are used so much more effectively in his later two films, such as an unblinking look at the ugliness in life, and strange songs with lyrics penned by Solondz, this film is not in the same league as either. It doesn't help that intentionally or otherwise, Solondz comes off as a annoying version of Woody Allen. Recommended for Solondz (or Tucci) completists only.

The lead character played by Soldonz is a cross between Woody Allen and Carrot Top, in mannerisim as well as looks. He's a loser dude with nothing coming who falls for the local performace artist chic who happens to be incredibly unavailable (big shock) The film is complex like Allen, but has the grit of all those sweet New York Greenwich art rock movies of the 80's (Liquid Sky, Mondo New York, Slaves of New York, After Hours) which I'm a real sucker for. I liked the pathetic details, and the way Soldonz doesn't gloss over the painful details. It's plain and gritty, but it works for me.

The only reason I watched this movie is that I was getting ready to watch Happiness and in my research prior to watching it I looked up Todd Solondz's work and came across this.

I still haven't watched Happiness at the time of writing this review, but I have now watched this one now.

Unfortunately this has not been released on DVD and from what I have read will most likely never be if Todd Solondz has anything to say about it. My copy was a digitised VHS copy and not a very good copy at that, but happily watchable. The audio was quite good but the video quality sucked a bit. Still, it didn't stop me enjoying the movie and the music hooked me, especially the "Neat Kind of Guy" song.

Some pretty good, quirky acting from the man himself and some of the backup actors made this an enjoyable movie. Notably, the character Junk played by Jane Hamper stood out for me early on, but she grated on me later in the movie.

A very early Stanley Tucci movie with hair was another highlight for me.

Not having seen many Woody Allen movies, I can not really compare Todd Solandz to him as other reviewers have done.

Worth watching if you are a Todd Solandz fan, good luck finding a copy that is watchable.