Review Swiss Army Man movie

Swiss Army Man has become known as the movie with the farting corpse of Harry Potter. If that doesn’t make you sit up and take note maybe the fact that it won the Directing Award at Sundance will. I’d been trying to get to see this movie ever since it opened and what a blast it was.

Thanks Madman

The movie opens with Hank (Paul Dano) stranded on a deserted island with a rope around his neck, about to make his final move when a corpse named Manny (Daniel Radcliffe) washes up on shore.

Hank soon realises that Manny has some unique qualities, especially when his gases release. Like a fully charged soda syphon Manny can be turned into a machine gun, a surf ski, a bottle opener and a myriad of other mind-bending ideas as the movie name suggests. Realising the value of Manny’s gas Hank ensures they don’t go to waste thanks to a strategically placed cork.

thanks Madman

Hank and Manny soon become firm friends and set out on an adventure. Along the way Hank reminisces about a lost love and when Manny thinks she is his ex things start to get complicated.

Swiss Army Man is an utterly unique, hilarious, strange story. It’s a crazy ride that’s equal parts weird, profound and tender.

Radcliffe really threw himself into the role and is absolutely brilliant. How he conveyed so much emotion from a stagnant body is a lesson in great acting. Dano is equally commanding with his depth of feeling for what is essentially a lifeless body. His wonderful facial expressions are a perfect companion to Radcliffe frozen stare.

Aside from the Directing Award the movie has also been praised by TIME, Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly and I can see why. As I sat watching the credits trying to work out what I’d just seen I pondered:

1. The movie is a wonderful look at humanity, the power of chance encounters, how everyone is special with their own unique talents and we all need someone to lean on;
2. At first I thought Hank was hallucinating then realised there was no point trying to fit this story into the usual storytelling boxes, this is a wonderfully unique experience;
3. How amazing is it that there are still people out there who can deliver unseen creative ideas;
4. Radcliffe and Dano have created a wonderful bromance of the most unlikely proportions;
5. Both performances demand attention and recognition as do the makeup and music departments.

I really hope you get to see it and if you do go in with an open mind. The movie is showing at Luna Cinemas.

To see the trailer click here.