Rubber Review

• 2nd Apr 2011

This odd little film from Quentin Dupieux (better known as electro muso, Mr Oizo) tells its best joke shortly after the opening titles and then falls flat.

Robert comes to his senses and finds he is blessed with psycho-kinetic powers that allow him to destroy anything in his path. At first he tries blowing up bottles and cans, then rabbits and crows. It’s not too long before he’s blowing up people. This would be horrible even if Robert weren’t a discarded car tyre.

What could have been an enjoyable bit of disposable nonsense is ruined by Dupieux’s insistence on adding a layer of existential film school pretension. Robert’s murderous path of destruction is watched from a distance by The Spectators, a group of people who stand in for the audience and make inane comments on the action. They are greeted by a cop who explains that what they are about to see is a tribute to the cinematic convention of ‘no reason’. This opening explanation is, in and of itself, a knowing joke that won’t stand up to too much scrutiny: “Why is ET brown? No reason. Why do the characters in Love Story fall madly in love? No reason. Why does no one in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre go to the bathroom or wash their hands? No reason.” Unbeknownst to The Spectators, the people involved in telling Robert’s story can’t finish until all The Spectators are gone. Yeah. Clever.

This ‘no reason’ gag is fine, but Dupieux makes a fatal error by confusing no reason with no real plot, no engaging characters, and no internal logic with which to be consistent. As a short film this would have been fine; as a feature you’ll be wishing for it to hit the road after the first 15 minutes. Tiresome.

Clare Moody