09.25.06

Little Man

Posted in Uncategorized at 2:21 pm by Sarah

I proved too weakminded and Leon had to go without me. I went to the Ron Mueck, which was amazing (although we were disappointed that some of the more famous pieces like Mother and Child weren’t there). However, he has generously provided us with a review.

“Little Man is one of the funniest films that I have seen this year. The pleasure of the film was derived both from the inspired on screen comedy and from the reactions of the audience whith whom I saw it; composed
primarily of 12 to 15 year olds (who were better behaved than I was when I used to go to the ‘pictures’ at that age) and my daughter and her cousin aged 8 and 7.

There are a number of spoilers in this review and those who don’t want the film ruined should be advised that ‘Little Man’ is always offensive, often entertaining and never intelligent. In order to enjoy the film one has to engage with it on its own terms and ignore the ludicrous anture of the premise. For example why would a grown man (albeit a midget) defecate and urinate on himself for the sake of verisimillitude, surely the sight of fully developed genitalia (and judging by the midgets confident smile when his genitals are discussed he is not a ‘little man’ down there) which presumably includes descended testicles MUST alert someone to the fact that this is no ordinary baby. Non ti procuparri, gentle reader, you must turn your brain off to enjoy this film. The stupider you can be the more you will enjoy it.

A midget prtending to be a baby is fostered by a (presumably mentally disabled) couple. There are a large number of jokes about men being hit in the balls with various objects. This leitmotif which begins unpromisingly and becomes tedious and then irritating finally became hilarious.
There are jokes about breastfeeding which don’t make sense. The midget wants to suckle at a sex pot type’s boobs, but when given a rather more pendulous and dare I say less artificial boob to nurse on makes a disgusted face. What is this – a little midget faggot? Just put her nipple in your mouth and drink the sweet sweet milk of human kindness. The woman even throws a blanket over his head before she stuffs her nipple in his mouth. I
mean the midget has just got out of jail but we’re supposed to believe that he wouldn’t suck any tits upon which he could get his mouth? That reminds me; the midget’s nickname for his cellmate is “Sweetmouth” which only got a laugh from me in the whole cinema. But maybe there is a whole gay theme here that I’m missing. Brokeback Midget anyone?

The midget qua midget got a lot of laughs from the children. The film is dirty and while the mid teenagers were scandalised the children were oblivious. Bizarrely I don’t think it warped their minds; they just tuned all the double enteres and benny hill style salaciousness out.

SUPER SPOILER COULD WRECK FILM
The couple are waking up after a night of lovemaking. The wife says she can’t remember the last time they did it twice. (Laughter) The husband says “Twice? Did we do it twice’ (more laughter OK I get it the midget
fucked the wife). The wife says that they did it twice while the husband looks puzzled (girl with D4 accent shouts ‘Oh my God’ and more laughter). Husband says he doesn’t remember doing it twice – cut to midget making eyebrow wiggles (girl with D1 accent shouts ‘Jesus the baby’ more laughter) so four laughs from one joke; none of which came from 8 year old or 7 year old.

At the end of the film the ‘father’ and the ‘baby’ are parting ways and the midget says “No hard feelings”. They agree and shake hands. “No hard feelings”? You fucked my wife you fucking recidivist midget.

The audience were well behaved, some popcorn throwing but no catcalling at the screen. A lot of text messaging and whispering but frankly I don’t think one can go to a 12s film on a Sunday afternoon and complain
about teenagers. 2 final points, people were sitting on the stairs, contrary to what the Sunday World would have us believe a couple beside me and in front of Cousin (7) were snogging and in both cases the girls
held their arms in the boxers boob guard position we all remember but which thankfully none of us will have encountered for some time. (I noticed this when I told them to stop kissing- in both cases they did- I
wan’t being a busybody the ones beside me were distracting me from Little Man and Cousin stood up to watch the 2 in front).”

Meanwhile I told Leon about my visit to the Ron Mueck exhibition and marvelled at how the sculptor’s use of scale increased the impact of the figures. Leon “That’s interesting you know because in Little Man the use of scale is crucial to the entire film”. So a common theme to our artistic ventures this weekend.

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