"The Lobster" is one of the most bizarre movies that you will ever see, but that's what makes it so entertaining. This film completely transports us to a believable dystopia where singles have 45 days to find a partner or be transformed into an animal of their choosing. I typically hate black comedies. I feel that the humor never reaches a level of irony that transforms it from sad to amusing but this film managed to make me laugh in the most unexpected places. It's the combination of irony, complete absurdity, and a realistic dystopian future that delivered me to a place where I didn't feel guilty laughing at a dying lady moaning on the ground after jumping out of a window. The Oscar-nominated screenplay is amazing as it creates dialogue that is more awkward than middle school. Of course, it's all in the delivery but the script makes the most of awkward repetition and mundane small talk. Scenes like the dance sequence are so weird but so funny. A nonchalant use of the f-word and other strong language is almost necessary to painting this emotionless future but makes it difficult to endure at points. The blatant expression of offensive language and strong content is relentless but properly sets the mood for this demented story. The final result is a dichotomy of feeling that the subject matter is dull at points and fascinating at others. The odd dialogue is enhanced by an appropriately atonal score. I never expected that an atonal score could be so whimsical and fun but it adds to the air of “WTF” throughout the story. It is hard to refer to the acting as “good” since the idea is for the actors to deliver the dialogue with as little emotion as possible. Colin Farrell hides behind his mustache so effectively that you won't even realize that it's him. Rachel Weisz creates the perfect amount of non-chemistry with him while John C. Reilly and Ben Whishaw make great sidekicks. This film is unlike anything that you’ve seen but as long as you can get past the strong content, it is a fun trip into the world of “poor acting.” “The Lobster” intentionally fells like watching an elementary play with its mundane, unemotional dialogue the it makes for a highly entertaining experience.
[Pictured: This film is full of awkward sequences like these propaganda demonstrations of how you might avoid choking to death if you have a partner (above) and the most ridiculous rendition of "Something's Got a Hold of My Heart" (below)]
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