A service course on aggressive industrialism disguised as a slacker comedy: Thats the kindest way to explain Michael Lehmanns Flakes, a motion picture that shares the smug, hipper-than-thou sensibility of its sour lead character, Neal Downs (Aaron Stanford).
An aspiring rock artist who manages a New Orleans eatery where the only expense of fare is breakfast cereal, Neal is a reflexively sarcastic deadbeat whose similarly sour sweetheart, Pussy Katz (Zooey Deschanel), shares his bohemian imagine taking a trip the nation in an Airstream trailer, making music and art.
The walls of the dining establishment, called Flakes, are lined with cereal boxes, including unusual terminated brand names. As consumers slop up unique mixes, the film recommends a deadpan spoof of premium fetishism. One home specialized chocolate-flavored grains steeped in chocolate milk sounds especially nauseating.
Owned by Willie (Christopher Lloyd), a shabby hippie geezer with mad-scientist hair, Flakes hops along as a hangout for deadbeats until a bright-eyed nouveau riche visitor, Stuart (Keir ODonnell), proposes turning it into a profitable franchise. When Willie and Neal express no interest, Stuart establishes a competing Flakes across the street, and the New Orleans cereal wars begin.
Wishing to put Stuart out of company, Neal begins playing filthy techniques, the nastiest of which is the circulation of fliers to the homeless appealing 10 complimentary bowls per consumer at his rivals establishment. The trick triggers a near-riot that Stuart masterfully turns to his benefit.
Neals brand-new live-in relationship with Pussy begins to curdle when she turns traitor and goes to work for the Whuffie competition, hoping that the demise of the initial Flakes will leave Neal with time to complete his CD. If the name of his band, Cereal Killers, is completely selected, its music is a joke.
Once legal representatives end up being involved in the disagreement, the movies anti-establishment mindset evaporates, as does the tiny little bit of levity Flakes has produced.
FLAKES
Opens on Wednesday in Manhattan; likewise on Video as needed.
Directed by Michael Lehmann; written by Chris Poche and Karey Kirkpatrick; director of photography, Nancy Schreiber; modified by Nicholas C. Smith; music by Jason Derlatka and Jon Ehrlich; produced by Gary Winick and Jake Abraham; launched by IFC First Take. At the IFC Center, 323 Avenue of the Americas, at Third Street, Greenwich Village. Running time: 1 hour 24 minutes. This movie is not rated.
WITH: Aaron Stanford (Neal Downs), Zooey Deschanel (Miss Pussy Katz), Christopher Lloyd (Willie), Frank Wood (Bruce), Ryan Donowho (Skinny Larry), Izabella Miko (Strawberry) and Keir ODonnell (Stuart).