‘The Lobster’ has the acquired taste of the crustacean it’s named after.
The emotional concept of the couple is universally-known, yet not universally-accepted. For some, it’s the bane of their very existence, centered on a chronic fear of loneliness. For others, it’s exactly what makes The Lobster such an intriguing idea.
This indie sci-fi builds both its comedic and romantic elements out of David (Colin Farrell), a broken-hearted bachelor in a dystopian future requiring forceful companionship. When his wife admits to her recent adultery, David leaves the City for the Hotel, a transitional residence that allows its guests up to 45 days to find a partner. If he fails to do so within the allotted time frame, David will turn into the animal of his choice. This rule persuades him to run away to live with “The Loners,” a group of individuals that accept self-responsibility and forbid entanglements of any kind. Nevertheless, when David falls for the Shortsighted Loner (Rachel Weisz), he must decide where his priorities truly stand.
Before you judge this book by its cover, let me state the obvious: it’s quite the offbeat approach to your typical romantic comedy, even though it brands itself as such. The fact that our main character’s stakes involve becoming a crustacean is enough to make you shy away from even finishing this review.
However, as uncomfortable as it may seem, The Lobster is surprisingly clever in its ways. It creates a fictional realm of existence with the intention of getting a single point across: sometimes, it’s okay to be alone. In other words, it bends and practically breaks the general formula for a romance by preaching solidarity, with the intention that love will happen when we least expect it. Just look to David and the Short-Sighted Woman for some insight.
“The Lobster is an interesting take on the idea of romance and love,” said Jantzen Rogalski, a Wayne native and rom-com fanatic. “I didn’t really know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised with the movie as a whole.”
Altogether, this 112-minute bundle of twisted genres is, for better or worse, a decent film. The cinematography looks to be almost straight out of a Wes Anderson handbook, and the script’s off-kilter dialogue matches the outlandishness of the environment surrounding it. The Lobster might not even be Collin Farrell or Rachel Weisz’s best roles to-date, but they each bring themselves into the personas of their estranged couple.
In the end, you might not want to watch it twice. Yet, if this film has taught us anything, it’s that two doesn’t always have to be better than one.
The Lobster is now playing in movie theaters everywhere, including AMC Clifton Commons 16 and even Bow Tie Clairidge Cinemas in the heart of downtown Montclair. For a list of even more theaters and show-times, visit fandango.com today!
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