The Extra Man (2010)

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

This film tries so hard to be humorously quirky it hurts itself in the process. From start to finish, nearly every character and event is portrayed as being unique and odd in a way that's supposed to make you fall in love with the whole mess. There are good actors in this, to be sure. Kevin Kline, for one. John C. Reilly is wasted by speaking in a painfully fake high-pitched voice that sounds like someone trying to voice a character for a cartoon (this could have worked with some voices, but in this case the director should have said "Well, worth a shot; let's try something else to make this character wacky").A teacher who gets fired for wearing a bra he finds in a teacher's lounge goes to Manhattan to find himself (his words). Although not yet reemployed, he rents a room in the apartment somehow afford by Kline's character (who acts as a male escort for society matrons, though he points out he receives no monetary compensation, which begs the question of how he affords a small but pricey Manhattan apartment). The rest of the film is devoted to showing that the characters are sophisticated but nonconforming.I actually looked away from the screen on several occasions I was so pained by the overacting and, much more, overwriting. I kept waiting for things to get better, even when Reilly started talking in his cartoon voice (with no particular point to it). I do like unusual comedies, even dark ones, but this film wasted some good talents, plus the money I paid to see it.

This little gem is structured and unfolds like an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel (complete with continual Gatsby-esque references to Hamptons-like settings), which we are informed at the very beginning when the two principal characters, Kline and Dano, are introduced as lovers of and teachers of Gatsby period literature. I don't quite understand some of the negative comments in other reviews, since this offbeat character study is well-scripted and certainly well executed with Dano, Kline, and Riley. The only problem I can see is the lack of a back story at the beginning that explains the many quirks upon which rest the narration and the character development. SPOILER: Are we so jaded by Hollywood banality that we can't wait till the end of the film to see that Kline's character Henry has been telling the truth about himself all along, that he is a Rosenkavalier (the theme is underscored by the subplot whether or not the young Louis will marry the old rich woman's niece)? The end, in fact, cleverly establishes the ambiguity that seems to dominate the movie, but in fact is a precise and well-targeted resolution. In fact, it is the contrast between the apparently shallow lifestyle to which he aspires with all his parasitical schemes and his brutal honesty throughout (for example, admitting that he is manoeuvring his roommate Dano/Louis Ives merely to get a ride) is what carries the psychological mechanics of the movie. This is made clear at the end by several scenes and twists, which I won't reveal here. In the end, we see that the socialite salon society to which the Extra Man aspires (extra, as in making up the balance in the boy-girl equilibrium of dinner parties) is not really lampooned nor the subject of parody, but is in fact a viable space where people can be just as real as anyone else who wears jeans and baseball caps – vain and narcissistic, yes, but also generous, honest, self-sacrificing and especially capable of living according to a strict code that obliges self-honesty in the midst of meaningless rituals of chivalric obligation and politeness. This film can also been seen as a kind of Bildungssroman, a voyage of exploration of a young acolyte at the hands of an older mentor, with a twist of course, since the young man in this case explores sexual paths not sanctioned by the older Kline. Yet in the end we are not sure if the older mentor or the younger disciple or even the court jester (Riley) is the motivating force for self-awareness. The film works on many levels, obviously, and this in large because the minimalist script is very efficient and in part because the actors are great. Worth the time and intellectual investment (helps to watch at least partly aware and awake). Kline should be applauded for an intelligent performance that transforms quirks, weirdness, and eccentricity into a believable portrait of warped but very real idealism.

Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini's 'The Extra Man' is average stuff... that had the potential to come out as a pure gem. But, the writing is weak, especially in the final 30-minutes.'The Extra Man', based on a novel, tells the story of a failed playwright, who develops an odd mentor relationship with a Louis Ives, a troubled, cross-dressing, aspiring writer to whom, he sublets a room in his New York apartment.The idea, is fairly interesting, and it does hit the right points in the beginning. But, after a point, the writing begins to lose. The pace suddenly dips, and even the culmination comes out bland. Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini's adapted screenplay is flawed. Their direction is just about okay.Performance-Wise: Kevin Kline is damn good. He is the life of the show. Paul Dano does reasonably well, while John C. Reilly sports a hideous get-up. Katie Holmes is alright. Alicia Goranson is fair.On the whole, an average effort, that had great potential, but sadly, gets wasted due to weak writing. Watch it if you must!

This movie actually took me by surprise.First of all, let me start off by saying that the story is so compelling and spellbinding that it will blow you away. There is just something about this movie that is so unique in every way.The characters in this movie are so fantastically unique, quirky and lovable. It all just came together for a greater unity. The role of Louis Ives (played by Paul Dano) was the quirkiest of all, struggling to find his place in life, dealing with his sexuality and the admiration of Henry and trying to find acceptance. And I must admit that Paul Dano portrayed his character in a very good way; he was awesome in this movie. And his resemblance to a young Liam Neeson is just uncanny.Moving on to the role of Henry Harrison (played by Kevin Kline), well his role was eccentric and strict. But, as usual, Kline put on a magnificent performance. He is very charismatic and have a good voice. He is indeed one of the better actors of recent times.And also, not forgetting, the strange character of Gershon Gruen (played by John C. Reilly) was also very memorable and lovable, especially his voice.In all fairness, then this movie worked so good on all levels. However, I think that a share of people might be put off by the movie, as it does have that certain epic cinema moment to it, and also dealing with (and I use this term in lack of better) sexually deviant behavior. For me, I found that aspect of the movie to be one of the driving factors, because it showed how Louis Ives was struggling to find himself and dealing with his needs.The movie is very beautiful in more than one way. The story is beautiful, the cinematography is beautiful, the music is beautiful, and so forth. This is one of the better movies I have seen in a while. It is a fresh breath of change in the movie scene for me. Nice with a movie that stands out from the mainstream comedies, and dares to be so unique as it is.If you haven't already seen "The Extra Man", then you owe it to yourself to do so, especially if you are (like me) a lover of the cinema and movies. This is a story that will stay with you for a long, long time.Thumbs up, way, way up from me!