Swiss Army Man (2016)

Directors: Daniel Scheiner, Daniel Kwan

Story: Daniel Scheiner, Daniel Kwan

Cast: Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe

Music: Robert McDowell, Andy Hull

Time: 96 minutes

Bottom-line: Non-stop fun… but storyline needs work

This comedy-adventure film starring Daniel “Harry Potter” Radcliffe and Paul Dano takes a new look at the survivor film genre. Swiss Army Man is the story of two men trying to find home from a deserted island, but unlike what you expect, this film has tons of comedy and brings out some really good acting from both leads.

Hank (Dano) is a man marooned on an island… who is about to hang himself. Just then he sees a body (Radcliffe) wash up on the shore. He immediately goes and tries to revive it but to no avail. As the tide washes the corpse away, Hank notices that the body propels itself by farting. Hank uses this body as a jet ski and rides across the ocean, landing on a mainland shore but with no civilisation in sight. That night Hank realises that he can use the corpse as a (seemingly everlasting) source of water. The body finally starts to talk and assumes the name Manny. Hank teaches Manny everything about the world and uses the body as a multipurpose tool kit: from storing water, to firing stuff and what not. The adventures these two share on their way home is what the film is about.

This is the first film I am seeing Radcliffe perform in a non-Potter role, and I am quite impressed; the 26-year-old seems to have gained a lot of acting tips after the 8 movies. Initially he plays just a lifeless human, but later he plays the role of an adult with an innocent child-like mentality. He is oblivious to the way people talk and behave. Slowly he begins to learn about life, death and love, before falling in love with a woman on Hank’s phone. I like the way his lines have been written: funny at times and at the same time philosophical. The scene where the bear attacks Hank is one to look out for. Paul Dano is one actor who never seems to have very few prominent lead roles, and this one is surely one of his best. I loved his acting especially at the end, when they interview him on TV. Though I feel Radcliffe and Dano are an unlikely duo, and the chemistry is not as much as say, Tatum and Hill in 21 and 22 Jump Street, the individual performances are superb.

 

Dano as Hank (back) and Radcliffe as Manny

There is a lot of humour: clean and dirty jokes. However, the story is not that good. I was surprised to see a comedy film in the survivor genre but wasn’t happy with the way the film ended. The “fantasy” elements – Manny’s superpowers – helped to add to the fun as well, but then most of the humour seems to thrive on that.

Swiss Army Man is a fun movie but not worth paying for. The acting is pretty much the only standout, and the comedy depends on your taste. Lots of laughs guaranteed, but an average film on the whole.

My Rating: 3/5

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 67%