Funny Pages

The teenage misadventures of R Crumb, maybe

A bit half baked. Entertaining generally.

Attempt at mixing a mid-aught indie with a 70s indie is never entirely successful, but is so fascinating for how it subverts the tropes of its forebears, and strides down some bat-shit insane alleyways, that it remains compelling and interesting nonetheless, encapsulated by Maher’s brilliantly original take on the shady aspirational figure, though the entire cast come at subtle right angles to their otherwise familiar characters. It’s easy to admire such bold swings for the fences.

I’ve never been there but this is what I dream of New Jersey being like. Funny you could imagine his S&tW character living this life.

Funny Pages, the directorial debut of Owen Kline, is one of those movies that gets so much right it’s all the more frustrating that its pieces never quite fit together.

Ghost World for the boys. The film explicitly states its desire to constantly subvert right at the beginning and sticks to its guns for better or worse. The basement apartment stuff was pure, gross, gold.

I like what this is trying to do, and it's largely successful, but the ending is a total mess. It feels like it goes right from the climax to credits way too quickly. Definitely could have been longer and more fleshed out. That said stylistically I found it oddly charming. Daniel Zolghardri is great and fits the raw sort of early indie vibes perfectly. While not perfect, If you're up for a gross, subversive, low-budget coming-of-age film then you might find something to like here.

Where it succeeds: the comics that Robert draws mirrors his life in how gross it all feels. It perfectly nails that tone. When they are talking comics on a deeper level it's interesting. But it meanders, wanting us to laugh at how unusual/extreme it is, but it's a comedy without any real jokes. The characters are unlikable but in the "X-pac Heat" way, not the "I want to watch these shitheads" way. It doesn't matter what the characters' circumstances are, they are all on the same one note.

Most characters are assholes, including the main. Relies heavily on America's nostalgia. Don't know what to write without spoiling it so I won't say much.

It is so much different than it’s trailer. I thought it would be amazing to see a different and realistic coming of age story but yet somehow all of the characters are trash and weirdo. It isn’t good at all. Shooting film results great colors which makes colors great but that’s all. It could’ve been better and better.

Creep!

A forceful subversion of the artistic coming-of-age story that's also a stealthy shot at the myopia of privilege. (Coming from the scion of two well-known actors, no less.) It's a bit rough around the edges, but that's almost fitting because nothing is sugar-coated here--especially not its teen protagonist's misplaced sense of importance.

"Funny Pages" is a unique and intriguing film that blends mumblecore, cringe comedy, and gritty aesthetics to create a coming-of-age story with a twist. While it falls short in character development and can be off-putting to some viewers, the film's charm and quirkiness make it worth a watch.