Between music in the soundtrack and stylistic touches scattered throughout the film, including mild, adequate special effects, 'The failures' can be fairly easily dated. Some of the humor is a little crude, and other aspects are interminably cheesy in the way that only a comedy can be. Add to this abundant content warnings for frank depictions and discussion of suicide, self-harm, underage drinking, ableist language, and domestic violence and verbal abuse, and 'The failures' is a little bit of a rough ride. For all that, though, it's fairly well made, and off-color as some of the humor is, the writing is more smart and clever than not. This is hardly going to be for everyone, but as far as comedies go, especially from the early 2000s, this is quirky and reasonably enjoyable.
Protagonists Lilly and William are deeply troubled in their own ways, emphasized in the very premise of a friendship based around her effort to help him commit suicide. I don't especially recognize Chad Lindberg - only in passing, really - but he makes William's particular portrait of depression feel recognizably real and familiar. Lilly is a bit more dynamic as a character, and just as Ashley Johnson has very well proven herself in a long career in film, TV, and web production, she embodies the teen's rough edges and closely guarded vulnerabilities with all the nuance and poise we've come to expect from her. Other cast members are much less prominent, but it's hard not to notice names like Henry Czerny, Claudia Christian, Jesse Plemons, and Michael Ironside also appearing.
Difficult as the subject matter is, 'The failures' gratifyingly declines to indulge in the melodramatic tropes that commonly adorn any sort of heartfelt cinematic fare. And "heartfelt" really is the right word here, because despite the offbeat comedic slant, there are themes and notions at play about depression, and struggling through life, that really resonate. It's hard to strike a balance between the varied elements of the picture - humor, shocking indelicacies, sincerity - and the result isn't perfect. But this could have gone very wrong in many ways, and more so than not, the picture is endearing. A strong cast helps, certainly, but much credit is due to writer Hal Haberman, whose screenplay so ably manages to organically weave all the constituent parts together. In all regards - character, dialogue, scene writing, overall narrative - Haberman's paramount contribution is adept, and unexpectedly rich.
I appreciate the consideration for details like costume design, hair, and makeup. Though dated, the soundtrack is actually quite suitable. The technical craft in general is quite fine. Once more for emphasis, it's the writing and acting that make this the fair success it is. For all reasons it will hardly be for a wide general audience, but if one can abide the slightly less savory facets, what we get is a pleasantly satisfying, even rewarding picture. 'The failures' has its problems, but if one has the opportunity and wherewithal, it's a not at all a bad way to spend 90 minutes. Recommended specifically for fans of the cast, and of Ashley Johnson above all.
