Very funny darkly deadpan comedy.
No matter how dark and disturbing this movie gets, it never takes itself too seriously. Every disturbing scene we might take seriously is followed by an absurdity that cannot be taken seriously. These moments are woven perfectly together and just help make the movie a more enjoyable experience. What makes these absurdities even funnier is that they are played with a completely straight face. We are never told what is a joke and what is to be taken seriously. I personally admit, as the plot started to take a dark turn, at first I felt the movie was turning from a comedy to something more serious. However as I kept watching I quickly learned this was not the case, but rather the film was actually getting funnier, if at times more subtly so.
Not everything in this movie adds up or makes logical sense. However the more I think about this movie the funnier that is. To get the most out of this movie you must take the lapses in logic as part of the film's humor and charm rather than as a fault. Again this works because it is played with a straight face making each absurdity even funnier.
While this movie is excellent as a comedy it is certainly less successful as a social commentary. While the comedy often feels original, the social commentary feels much too obvious and safe. It seems at many times to beat us over the head with its anti-"toxic masculinity" message. Lines about the only female member of dojo are especially bad. We have heard these lines many times and they come off as rather stale and preachy. Similar are our main character's lines about feeling a lack of masculinity and his fear of more masculine men. What the movie is trying to say with these lines is much too obvious and preachy.
This movie's sense of humor is definitely too dark and disturbing for many. However for those of us who enjoy dark comedy, this is a very funny movie, despite its faults.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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