A business course on ruthless commercialism camouflaged as a slacker funny: Thats the kindest method to explain Michael Lehmanns Flakes, a movie that shares the smug, hipper-than-thou sensibility of its sour protagonist, Neal Downs (Aaron Stanford).
An aspiring rock musician who handles a New Orleans restaurant where the only expense of fare is breakfast cereal, Neal is a reflexively ironical deadbeat whose equally sour sweetheart, Pussy Katz (Zooey Deschanel), shares his bohemian imagine traveling the country in an Airstream trailer, making music and art.
The walls of the dining establishment, called Flakes, are lined with cereal boxes, including unusual ceased brand names. As consumers slop up unique combinations, the film recommends a deadpan satire of premium fetishism. One home specialized chocolate-flavored grains steeped in chocolate milk sounds particularly nauseating.
Owned by Willie (Christopher Lloyd), a decrepit hippie geezer with mad-scientist hair, Flakes limps along as a hangout for deadbeats until a bright-eyed nouveau riche visitor, Stuart (Keir ODonnell), proposes turning it into a lucrative franchise. When Willie and Neal reveal no interest, Stuart develops a competing Flakes across the street, and the New Orleans cereal wars start.
Hoping to put Stuart out of company, Neal begins playing filthy techniques, the nastiest of which is the distribution of fliers to the homeless promising 10 totally free bowls per customer at his rivals establishment. The prank triggers a near-riot that Stuart skillfully turns to his benefit.
Neals brand-new live-in relationship with Pussy starts to curdle when she turns traitor and goes to work for the competition, hoping that the demise of the original Flakes will leave Neal with time to complete his CD. If the name of his band, Cereal Killers, is perfectly chosen, its music is a joke.
Once attorneys become involved in the disagreement, the films anti-establishment mindset evaporates, as does the tiny little levity Flakes has created.
FLAKES
Opens on Wednesday in Manhattan; also on Video on Demand.
Directed by Michael Lehmann; written by Chris Poche and Karey Kirkpatrick; director of photography, Nancy Schreiber; edited by Nicholas C. Smith; music by Jason Derlatka and Jon Ehrlich; produced by Gary Winick and https://postheaven.net/t2hvpks065/receiver-of-many-awards-and-critical-acclaim-the-sopranos-has-actually Jake Abraham; released by IFC First Take. At the IFC Center, 323 Opportunity of the Americas, at Third Street, Greenwich Village. Running time: 1 hour 24 minutes. This movie is not ranked.
WITH: Aaron Stanford (Neal Downs), Zooey Deschanel (Miss Pussy Katz), Christopher Lloyd (Willie), Frank Wood (Bruce), Ryan Donowho (Skinny Larry), Izabella Miko (Strawberry) and Keir ODonnell (Stuart).