Pottersville

Ok so this is definitely not your run of the mill Christmas Film, in fact I'm not sure it's really a Christmas Film at all, but it is a truly fun, bizarre ride that stars Michael Shannon as a stereo typical general store owner that not so stereo typically accidentally becomes Bigfoot and in doing so saves his small town that is struggling to survive during rough economic times.

It's got a Coen Brothers tongue and cheek feel to it all; think O Brother Where Art Thou meets It's a Wonderful Life. The cast is truly top notch. Alongside Shannon, Judy Greer stars as the loveable shop-keeper; Ron Perlman stars as the local sheriff who's cheating with Shannon's wife, Christina Hendricks, and Thomas Lennon and Ian McShane battle as two capable and incapable hunters of Bigfoot.

It's a bizarre story indeed but if you are willing to jump on board and go for the ride, it's truly a fun one. Henrikson in his directing debut does not take himself overly serious, but creates an interesting juxtaposition by overly playing the earnestness of some truly bizarre circumstances (Ron Perlman and Christina Hendricks cheating on Michael Shannon IN HIS OWN BEDROOM while wearing FURRY COSTUMES, Michael Shannon getting extremely drunk and dressing up as Bigfoot and then deciding that he must continue to dress up as Bigfoot to save his town, Thomas Lennon as an "Australian?" Bigfoot Hunter seeking the help from a grizzled moonshiner, Ian McShane, to hunt down and possibly kill Bigfoot). The camera adds a fun sense of whimsicality to the story, hearkening imagery from Jean-Pierre Jeunet films.

I'm not sure what this film is. It's kind of a Christmas Story, but not really. It's kind of a drama about a small town falling on hard times, but not really. It's kind of a monster hunter broad comedy, but not really. But whatever it is, it somehow bizarrely worked for me, but walk into it knowing it's a little different.

This movie will not shock you, terrify you. There are no cars flying from building to building and exploding only to have the hero survive because they did a Ninja roll. Just a story of hope and finding meaning in the most mundane of the mundane. Accidentally setting off a spree of Bigfoot sightings, one man transforms a town and leaves it forever changed. This is a rare bird for Hollywood any more. Will it change your world, maybe not, but there are a lot worse ways to spend a couple hours and the laughs that will accompany it.

The movie has a great feel to it with cool retro production design. But ultimately, the story is just kind of slow. A guy in a marriage crisis dresses up as a gorilla one night when he gets sloppy drunk and runs around town, causing witnesses to believe they've seen Bigfoot. Every - including a reality TV monster hunter - descend on the small town. But it's really more of a premise than a story that pulls you along. Plus it's quirky with some fun moments, but it's not really LOL funny.

I can absolutely see this plot done in the '40s with any of the screwball comedy stars. It's well made, top to bottom, one of those that feels like everyone involved went home satisfied with their work. It is amusing to watch actors so capable of intensity 'play house with the kids'. It took a while to stop expecting someone to pick up a baseball bat and beat somebody to death.

This was not like any "Christmas" movie I'veever seen - if it even qualifies as a Christmas movie. Because it was so zany, at first I thought it was really bad acting or a really dumb script. But there are some accomplished actors on here who have acting skills. So what was I missing? After pondering this (for slightly more time than the Grinch pondered why The Who's were still celebrating on Christmas morning), it occurred to me. This is purposeful "camp." Kind of like Napoleon Dynamite. But I'm guessing so few people will ever see it that it will die a slow death and end up at Dollar Tree for $1. Give it a chance and keep an open mind - it is supposed to be dumb!