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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Film Review - Nothing Wrong with Wrong - A Review of Wrong


By Adam Ruhl



This is a movie so much fun that I had to see it twice; once at Fantastic Fest 2012 and then again earlier this year at the closing party for Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. I’m sitting here desperately searching for other films to accurately compare it to, but find it nearly impossible without giving the wrong impression. It’s got some of the same feel as Director Quentin Dupieux’s earlier film Rubber, but is radically different in story. It’s got a strong absurdist thread, but at the same time is a heartwarming tale of a man and his best friend.



What is Wrong about? It is the tale of a man named Dolph Springer (Jack Plotnick, Girls Will Be Girls.), who wakes up in his picture perfect suburban home and finds his dog Paul is missing. Wrong is the story of Dolph (not Adolph) searching for his dog and the characters he encounters in his quest.



This is a movie that sticks with you for a long time after you see it. The characters have a curious, funny, and memorable conversation style and frequently get drawn into absurd debates. The madness of the plot is jarringly set in a serene suburban neighborhood where everything appears colored in sedate, soothing pastels. Also in the mix is a grab bag soundtrack that ranges from seemingly random electric noises to ringtones to easy listening instrumentals that increase the film's other-worldly vibe. Drafthouse Films has put a few awesome sample tracks of the soundtrack up for free download.


The real heart of the film is its lead Dolph. Jack Plotnick plays a kind of straight man to the madness of this world while at the same time being a citizen of it. Dolph is a down-on-his-luck guy who’s just lost his only friend and Plotnick conveys that in a way that’s very relatable. It’s a comedy, but you still feel the loneliness and desperation he goes through. At the same time, it’s great fun watching him interact with everyone he has to deal with in his search, especially a mad Guru named Master Chang (William Fichtner, who delivers some of the funniest lines I've ever heard). Plotnick is also known for his alternate persona Evie in the movie Girls Will Be Girls and comparing the two roles highlights this actor’s tremendous range. Where Evie is loud, crude, and over the top, Plotnick plays Dolph as so shy and miserable it’s nearly impossible to believe it’s the same actor.



Director Quentin Dupieux's next film is called Wrong Cops that is not a sequel; however Plotnick does reprise his role as Dolph.


Jack Plotnick just wrapped production on a feature film he directed called Space Station 76, starring Liv Tyler and Patrick Wilson.  

Wrong is released unrated from Drafthouse Films and hits Theaters this Friday March 29th in NY, LA, and Austin. Also available on VOD.

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