Eagle vs. Shark is another film I've been wanting to see since it came out, almost two years ago. I missed its screening at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival (which is, excitingly, coming up again; it's always a highlight of springtime), and then it never came to my hometown during its limited release in theaters. I figured I'd like it, since the trailers showed off the kind of offbeat, quirky-to-the-point-of-artificial humor I like in movies such as Napoleon Dynamite and Wes Anderson's films. That kind of twee-ness is only enjoyable in small doses, though; it can grate if it's not done well.
So my opinion of Eagle vs. Shark went back and forth as I watched. A few "big reveals" were obvious to me from a mile away, and the sort of studied, gloomy weirdness of all of the characters, most with their requisite odd personality traits, kept the film from being emotionally resonant at times. And the romantic leads are so awkward at times and not even always likable. But it won me over with its moments of hilarity, most of which were fairly organic and character-based. The characters are so strange and exasperating and at times pathetic that you can't help but love them. And the music adds a sweet if predictably indie touch.
One thing about these indie romantic comedies is that I've never known anyone who had such an awkward, bittersweet, quirky romance. Maybe it's just personal; maybe a lot of relationships are more fragile and strange than the people in them let on to the outside. Maybe I'm just too mainstream, and so all of my experience falls within the scheme of parties and alcohol and hook-ups and texting and Facebook relationship statuses, with no homemade animal costumes or shy hula-hooping smiles involved. But that sounds like my life is closer to He's Just Not That Into You than Eagle vs. Shark, and I certainly don't want that. Maybe I've just yet to meet someone who fits me in that way, with whom I can have those strange and beautiful moments.
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