Spivak

A friend of mine told me to check out Spivak and, after a bit of hesitation, I decided to give it a try. I was really surprised! The movie is so charming, off-beat, smart, and unpredictable. The story is about this really bad unpublished writer who suffers through life around Los Angeles amidst these crazy characters who all try to help him even when he doesn't want to be helped. The grumpy guy who plays Spivak turns out to be pretty adorable, but the peripheral performances steal the show. The British guy who plays the golf pro Chuck gives a great performance as a jock who dreams of being an intellectual. Michael Cera has a small supporting part as Spivak's successful adversary. He's pretty funny in here as well. Anyway, I really recommend this movie. It's fun!

Spivak is a tiny ugly man who is constantly humiliated by life. His only ambition, to be a writer, is thwarted by his biggest critic: himself, as he writes and rewrites the same novel, to the cruel delight of the mean people around him. Single on a Valentine's Day, he is suddenly approached by a gorgeous girl who asks him to spend the night with her. This changes his life, to his great chagrin and ultimately delight, transforming him from a hateful frustrated little man into a relaxed and positive success.

I liked the way it was played. I have to say most of the scenes were really painful, as the actors all did very well and you could understand the main character's confusion, fear, shame and pain. The moral of the story has to be that you're doing it to yourself, as a bunch of beautiful rich people attempt again and again to make his life better, while he just fears that he doesn't deserve it.

While Michael Bacall did great as the titular character, I would say that most of the movie was carried by Robert Kazinsky's Chuck, a guy so sickeningly positive that you can't but doubt his good honest intentions. It's a strange movie to see. If Spivak wasn't so monstrously unlovable, the movie would have been more credible and easier to swallow. As such, I can only perceive it as a writer's dream, free of all pretenses. Or maybe that's my inner frustrated little man, unable to accept the possible beauty of the world. You decide, as you watch the film. It provides more questions than answers, and that's the whole point.

Offbeat, small budget rom-com starring Chris Kattan's vestigal twin. While cloyingly eccentric, the main plot is time-worn and used up. Insecure, blocked-up writer with a permanent "constipation-face" meets woman (who in reality would never give him the time of day) in an unlikely fashion. She's engaged to a studly, dim-bulb golf pro. Wacky hijinks ensue, rocketing to a predictable conclusion. No belly laughs, but nothing objectionable either. I thought of two endings that could've made this stand out a bit more, but a happy ending must be more bankable. Unfortunately, the ending destroys the quirky ambiance.

Wally Spivak (Michael Bacall) is a small time writer - uncool and unpublished. His "friends" who aren't much more cool than Wally themselves, still needle him incessantly that he just keeps redrafting the same manuscript. Alone at an all but deserted bar on Valentines night he's unexpectedly picked up by Jannine (Maggie Lawson), a totally cool girl from very much the other side of town. What is going on?

Enter Chuck (Robert Kazinsky), the irrepressible British golf pro harbouring a secret yearning for literature - a character so unlikely that the word surreal comes to mind. Despite the inexhaustible good humour and generosity of the new rich kids in his life, Wally is still overthinking - sure there must be a downside just around the corner.

Like an author's dream, the vein of surrealism persists, but everyone acts their part with conviction and we're carried along by the unlikely train of events. We shouldn't be overthinking either, just taking in the entertainment and enjoying the ride.

I found this movie endearing, uplifting and inspired. Misunderstood artist lost in his own self-doubt, insecure in his own ability, but happenstance and stepping out of his comfort zone open him up to the possibilities in front of him and renew his faith in the world. Yes, it has it's cheesy moments, but all in all, a nice change of pace.