i heart huckabees [B+]

moviemcpeake snippet: I Heart Huckabees is filled with humor, wit, and questions. The story line starts with Albert, played by Jason Schwartzman, who is on a journey to understand his coincidence run-ins with the same man three times. From there his existential detectives, Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin, begin to analyze his life by bringing more and more characters into his personal equation called a white blanket. As the film evolves, all flavors of people begin showing up. An executive at a top merchandise store called Huckabees played by Jude Law, his girlfriend, the Huckabees spokes model played by Naomi Watts, a confused firefighter played by Mark Wahlberg, and the dark, empty, nothing is connected therapist played by Isabelle Huppert. So how the heck does all of this come together and what does it mean?

First, a stellar, funny, quirky cast. Second, an original storyline with off humor that stumps you, the characters are relating and revealing, and a plot that is all over the place yet all after the same thing. How am I not myself? What does it all mean? How are we all connected? Are we connected? It leaves you to find your own answers and conclusions but the fun part is it leaves you with more questions, a different perspective, and a love for all the characters. It was a fun little ride through life, struggles, and triumphs, with you laughing at every turn and curve. I Heart Huckabees, has just that…a lot of heart.

So why the B+ instead of an A? Too much was going on that I felt like some of the existential story flew right over my head and I missed deeper connections that would make the film an A. The answer. Simple. You may need to see the film more than once to really appreciate all the heart in Huckabees. But either way, connections or not, it is was watchable, enjoyable, and most importantly unique.

recommendation: hey i don't give too many B+ or higher, so see it for an off the beat and path film night.