Movie rating: 3 Star

Dark Horse

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 This is so typical Solondz. The opening scene of Dark Horse is of a wedding reception and Solondz's camera works its way across the dance floor, through the crowd of manic dancers, who seem to be trying to hard/professional dancers, to a morose couple sitting in the corner. Solondz isn't interested in happiness and glee he actively seeks out the glum. Dark Horse, though, finds the Groom of Gloom™ in a chipper mood. That's chipper for Solondz by the way - there are no paedophiles in it - but still a downer for the rest of us.

The decisions overweight Abe (Gelber) has to make in life range from whether or not he should buy that vintage Lion-O figurine he has his eye on or should he ask out the cute girl he met at a wedding. He doesn't buy Lion-O but he does muster up the cojones to call Miranda (Blair), who is so heavily medicated for depression she can barely muster a 'whatever'. But these two misfits could actually be perfect together, if they are both willing to forego a hell of a lot, like each other's personalities.

We like to root for the underdog but the underdog has to be worth rooting for. Abe isn't a good guy. Still living in his parents' house, in the room he always had which is now stuff with Gremlins dolls and Simpsons posters, Abe blames his parents and his good looking, successful younger brother (Justin Bartha) for everything that has gone wrong in his life. But the truth is, Abe has only himself to blame and, Solondz being Solondz, one doesn't expect Abe to go through the usual character arc where he realises this and changes his selfish and childish shortcomings to become a better person. No, as he says himself, 'People should just face the truth – we're all horrible.' Yeah, you're watching a Todd Solondz film.

Dark Horse differs from Happiness and Palindromes, though, in that it finds humour amidst the pessimism. When Blair tentatively reaches in and kisses Abe, she breathes a sigh of relief: 'It's not as bad as it could have been.' With his odd haircut and trousers up around his ribs, Walken is giggle-worthy, as is wife Farrow. Walken's secretary veers from the meek moThis is so typical Solondz. The opening scene of Dark Horse is of a wedding reception and Solondz's camera works its way across the dance floor, through the crowd of manic dancers, who seem to be trying to hard/professional dancers, to a morose couple sitting in the corner. Solondz isn't interested in happiness and glee he actively seeks out the glum. Dark Horse, though, finds the Groom of Gloom™ in a chipper mood. That's chipper for Solondz by the way - there are no paedophiles in it - but still a downer for the rest of us.

Review by Gavin Burke | 16:19 | Friday 29th June 2012 | Movie Review

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Comments

• wotan

  PLease sort out the repeating problem. Editing needed!!! I expect more from this site

  Posted 17:21 | Sun 24th Jun 2012

• ted29

  wotan, get over yourself. Kn*b.

  Posted 09:22 | Fri 29th Jun 2012

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