Tusk

The podcast episode that became a movie

We start off with podcasting mogul Wallace Bryton (Justin Long) trekking up to Winnipeg, Canada to get an interview for his podcast. His interview falls through (for lack of a better phrase), and he goes to a local bar trying to drum up another interview so his trip isn't wasted. While at the bar he goes to the bathroom, and sees an advertisement on a bulletin board. The advertisement says that there is free room and board for someone that will hear an old man tell his many stories. Bryton makes the trip and meets Howard Howe (Michael Parks), a man who transfixes his guests with his stories, and makes them stay by spiking their drinks. Bryton wakes up immobilized and at the old man's mercy, it appears the old man has big plans in store for our intrepid young podcaster. He means to turn him into a walrus.

So, I guess there is something I have to get out before I write my review for this movie. The entire premise for this movie, and the reason it exists is because of a craigslist posting Kevin Smith found. The posting basically boasted free room and board if the tenant would act like a walrus while under the roof. He started joking about it on his podcast, then jokes became an idea, the idea became a hash-tag, the hash-tag became a green light, and here we sit watching Justin Long in a noticeably rubber suit. The thing is that it seems like Kevin Smith actually might have found his footing again after stumbling with "Red State." I absolutely abhor the idea of being marked in this life as a "Kevin Smith fanboy" (since I am obviously a Quentin Tanatino fanboy), but even if I were the only person on earth to say this, I was thoroughly entertained by "Tusk." Sure the effects were noticeably made on a lower budget, but the story here is possibly the most unique thing I have seen in ages (and we all know how I feel about movie scripts that are original). Honestly. Where are you going to find a movie about a serial killer with the affinity to turn people into walrus'? Besides the original script, the acting was superb, the direction was recognizably better then most of Kevin Smith's previous work, the effects may have been garbage, but the rest of the movie more then made up for that hilarious down fall. It generally feels like Kevin Smith had more passion behind this work then any of his more recent works. The story goes a bit haywire when you try to force in a love angle, but it only detracts from the rest of the experience slightly, after that we are back on course.

Now that the story/history of this movie is done with, let's talk about something bad in the movie. The effects. Justin Long is in a remarkably fake looking walrus suit. There is obviously fake blood on medical instruments, where there is supposed to be a grotesque medical scene. Someone hacks off their leg and you feel like you are transported back to the nineties. I say movies don't have to have good effects to be good, but it looks like the entire budget for this movie went towards a paycheck for Johnny Depp. I don't know whether to classify the painfully bad effects as endearing to the creator's low budget, or just plain bad. It was distracting, and that is definitely bad.

The best point in this movie (besides the story itself) was the acting. Justin Long played the dick/scared out of his mind character very well, and he actually didn't make to bad of a walrus. I was so happy to see a new Johnny Depp persona I almost forgot that he had been playing the same character for so many movies. If you see this movie for anything please see it to remember why we all originally liked Depp's acting; however, even he wasn't the best part of this movie. I have to give major kudos to Michael Parks for giving (possibly) the best performance I have seen all year.  It makes me sad that I know the academy won't recognize the obvious talent that went into this role, but as least we can sit back and enjoy the wonderful ride he takes us on. Aside form that, we find out where in the hell Haley Joel Osment has been since child hood...so....there is that. Genesis Rodriguez gives an endearing performance even if her separate story line was an annoying distraction. The only really bad acting I saw, was from an extra at a funeral (the funeral has next to nothing to do with the film, very early, no spoiler) who's fake sobs actually grated on my ears so much I almost walked out of the theater.

In the end, I have voted #WalrusYES on this film, for more than a couple of reasons, but what it really boils down to (and what I preach often on this blog) is: Was it entertaining? Yes. It had very minor moments of humor, wasn't really that scary; but, somehow I found myself thoroughly vexed by this guy being turned into a walrus. I don't know how to describe this feeling, it is like Kevin Smith cast a spell on me and I was back in my childhood. I wanted to see this movie succeed even though I was ready to hate it. Well played, Mr. Smith. Well played.

Final Verdict: See it in Theaters You may be used to amazing graphics quality by this point, but this movie will bring you back to a simpler time. A time where a man on a shoe string budget can create something special. May not be the best, but it was definitely great.