The Giant Mechanical Man (2012)

Genre: Dramedy

Theme: Lifestyle

Undercurrent: Courage

Language: English

Watched it on the internet 720p

In the modern age filled with achievers and the quest to be like them, life seems fake. To find oneself at a slow pace or to express through a new art is ridiculed. People in late 20s or 30s who are finding their path or just satisfied with the little they have are labeled as underachievers or dumb, often with new age artists, dreamers and introverts. There is so much pressure from the society when the 'direction' is missing, that a full life is judged to be useless or immature making many feel insecure and lost. Lee Kirk's beautiful film speaks rightly and clearly about this, and also about the common assumptions of success. For some people love to be, let them be. Lot of people would actually be if there was lesser pressure, and that will keep them honest and more lively, try to feel that within one self rather than running foolishly after ambitions that have more to do with the society than self. 

The movie is a smart satire on how sensitive and honest people suffer the wrath of expectations of a materialistic world.  Janice (by Jenna Fischer) is lost in herself in the drab jobs that doesn't connect her - she is too shy and unsure to take control of her life. Tim (by Chris Messina) is a street artist who plays 'The Giant Mechanical Man' on roads, expressing his view of the grim world and trying to help people empathize with the inner-pain of what is lost through each person's lifestyle. When such people meet, they immediately connect through honesty and silence too. The soul of the movie starts functioning immediately but is immediately lost to the silly Doug (by Topher Grace) who at no time is in any way a worthy opponent of true love. His character is of a self-enforced extrovert and a motivational speaker who preaches exactly the opposite of what the lead characters are and is such an easy push-off. The lack of a proper antagonist simply dries out the last 30 minutes of the film.  

Despite the fact that there is so much to cheer for and that there is such a wonderful setup, the movie is wasted. Except the lead artists who did very well, particularly Chris Messina, the rest of the cast is just way too loud and had no real sense or connection to any of the movie's emotions. Sister sentiment between Jill (by Malin Ackerman) and Janice just falls flat as Jill is just annoying and hard to bear in every scene she is in and that is because of the dialogues and the hasty presentation.

My favorite scene is that of Janice seeing Tim for the first time and understanding his work as he does robotic movements standing as the giant silver-faced man with an American flag in the background - a bond develops that is not used to affirm Janice's knowledge of perhaps the most important side of Tim which I feel is critical to establish a love story. One can relate to the lead characters as those standing on the sidelines silently watching, unsure of what to do. Still, they are truthful about it and lead a life on which they are slowly trying to get some grip, at their own pace. Although their conversations, misunderstandings and love is all sweet to watch, their shyness and mutual affinities are a great chance to establish scenes that  help them understand each other and get them closer but it just doesn't happen - isn't it a crime to waste such a wonderful subject? This is an earnest movie that fails to go beyond the two beautiful characters to set up a story. Although the technical departments have all done a good job, they simply had nothing to carry.