Movie Review: Paddleton

Paddleton *** ½ / *****

Directed by: Alex Lehmann.

Written by: Mark Duplass and Alex Lehmann.

Starring: Mark Duplass (Michael), Ray Romano (Andy), Alexandra Billings (Judy), Matt Bush (Stewart), Sierra Fisk (Olive), Kadeem Hardison (David), Bjorn Johnson (Master Liu), Lu Junchang (Ku Woo Tai), Ever Mainard (Laney), Jack McGraw (Evan), Marguerite Moreau (Kiersten), Stephen Oyoung (Chen), Jen Sung (Master Liu), Dendrie Taylor (Nancy), Christine Woods (Doctor Hagen).

 

We have seen a lot of movies – too many, frankly – about overgrown man children and their friendships with each other, that mean more to them than anything else in the world, well past the point when they probably should have just grown the hell up already. And yet, I’m not sure we’ve ever seen one of those movies quite like Paddleton – which is about two, doughy, middle aged, white, single male friends – who spend all their free time together, and what happens to that relationship when one of them is diagnosed with terminal cancer. It’s adding a degree of reality into a genre that I think is too often romanticizing the idea of remaining 15 forever, with some incredibly touching results. It also, I think, shows you just why these two guys have little else other than each other at this stage in their lives.

 

The movie doesn’t waste any time – the first scene in the movie has the pair of them at the doctors, who tells Michael (Mark Duplass) that he has cancer, and will need to see a specialist – which makes Andy (Ray Romano) immediately launch into a bunch of annoying questions that confuse the doctor – in part because she has no idea who is he, or what his relationship to Michael is. They are best friends – and Andy lives directly above Michael in one of those four unit complexes. They spend most of their time together eating pizza, playing guys and watching kung fu movies. Oh, and playing Paddleton – a game they made up that kind of resembles racquet ball – and playing at an old drive in theater.

 

Michael’s diagnosis isn’t good, and he decides that he wants a prescription that will end his life when the time comes – when there is nothing left but pain. But not everywhere will fill his prescription – so the pair of old buddies hits the road for one final road trip, to a quaint tourist town with a look inspired by Denmark to fill that prescription. They two talk and bicker, quote those kung fu movies, and disagree on what to do next. They are mistaken for a gay couple – and it’s easy to see why. They do bicker like an old married couple, with Michael always able to talk Andy done from his more panicky moments.

 

The movie works because of the two lead performances, and the chemistry between Duplass and Romano. Romano in particular is quite good here – perhaps the best he’s ever been. He’s a little out of sorts with the rest of the world – he doesn’t fit in anywhere. But he fits with Michael. In a way both he and Duplass are essentially playing off their usual onscreen personas a little bit here – and they match amazingly well.

 

You know where the movie is going from the outset, and yet, when the finale does finally arrive, you will likely find yourself crying just as I did. The film is very good throughout – if a little too formulaic and perhaps even a tad forgettable at times – but the ending of the film is pretty devastating. Predictable? Sure – but dammit if it doesn’t work. The film reminded me of another film featuring Duplass – Lynn Shelton’s Humpday. The films are very different, but both take male friendship seriously, and take things to a logical concluding point.