So there was a screening of new Kiwi comedy ‘Eagle Vs Shark’ last Friday, but what with me being away in the Bjorgan Fjords and all I couldn’t make it. In my stead I sent my friend Sam to the screening and asked him to let me know what he thought:

Eagle V Shark is Taika Waititi/Cohen’s first feature length offering after the mucho hyped (and oscar nominated) Two cars and one night short. This highly anticipated follow up focuses around Lily and Jarrod, a couple of local Wellington misfits and the perfectly/predictably tailored odd couple. The focus of the film is the unfolding romance between the pair and the rapidly ensuing power struggle. The Romance between the twosome runs parallel with the driving force in Jarrod’s life, a re-return to his hometown to take revenge on his arch nemesis (aka the school bully) and to hopefully get noticed by his dad who now shows even less interest in Jarrod since his older brothers suicide.

OK here goes…I really wanted to enjoy this film however there are far too many story lines shoehorned into one film, in turn this slows down any opportunity to develop the characters and leaves the viewer feeling more than a little short changed. This is a shame as there is such obvious potential to really draw the viewer in deeper especially the relationship between Jarrod and his father. On the upside the soundtrack keeps at least your ears focused throughout. Oh and there’s a great scene with a cripple being beaten with nunchucks.

Ah well, I’ll wait to see the film to form my own opinions, but it’s a shame Sam wasn’t keen on it. The guy that plays Jarrod is one half of ‘Flight of Conchords‘, who crack my shit up. If you haven’t seen it yet.. you might want to dig out their US tv show… by any means necessary