The Voices
Director: Marjane Satrapi
Actors: Anna Kendrick, Gemma Arterton
Release Date: Friday 20th March 2015
Genre(s): Factual
Running time: 103 minutes
Playing like The 40 Year Old Virgin if Steve Carell's character was also a serial killer, this Ryan Reynolds starrer comes with surprisingly little fanfare. Granted, its surreal, jet black comedy hardly appeals to the masses, but it's still a hugely entertaining watch with more than enough laughs to keep you interested until the (absolutely batshit crazy) final scenes.
Reynolds is Jerry; a seemingly polite, if slightly strange young man who has a crush on the exotic British woman working in his office (Arterton), despite the obvious affections of the very sweet, recently divorced Lisa (Kendrick). The only thing is Jerry also hears voices, more specifically that of his pets, who tell him to do things. And by do things we mean kill people.
Reynolds has too often been the best thing about a sub par movie. Touted as a blockbuster headliner for the studios, he's always excelled when working with more comedic material, despite his leading man looks. Here, he shows his chops once again, portraying a sympathetic character who does incredibly horrific things under the instructions of an evil cat (who he also voices). Granted, the eccentric tone helps underline that we're supposed to be in Jerry's head, but it's still another impressive performance from an actor who doesn't get enough credit when he gives them.
Helmer Satrapi is obviously enjoying herself, playing with people's perceptions of what a film like this should be, and takes the weird up a couple of notches as Jerry goes from a murderer to a serial killer. Our killer still gets a back story to give context to his still despicable actions, but this is a troubled guy and Satrapi is far more interested in what this all looks like to Jerry. And it works.
Some nice supporting work from the ever ace Anna Kendrick and a great Ryan Reynolds complement some brave, wonderfully absurd moments.
Worth a watch.
