The trailers for this movie intrigued me, I’m a sucker for movies based on real life. However, I became a bit leery when this movie was no longer available in my local theatre after a quick two week run. Then leeriness moved into “OH NO” when it became available at a theatre five miles away with shows at 8pm and 10:45 pm. Not a good sign.
Marwen is based on the life of Mark Hogancamp, an art illustrator who was a victim of a hate crime in Ulster County, New York. Mark was drunk in a local bar, there was an assumption he was gay, because he said he had been known to wear women shoes, and boom he’s nearly beaten to death in the street. Found by Wendy, who worked in the bar, the only remaining memories Mark has before the attack is the word “queer” and the jukebox playing Tammy Wynette’s hit “Stand by Your Man.”
During his recovery he found World War II Era comic books that he had illustrated. He had no knowledge of his artistic past, but his fascination with World War 2 and Nazi’s began, and grew into an obsession.
This movie in told in two different formats, live action with Steve Carell portraying Mark Hogancamp and the second format is digitalized dolls with human faces. Here, Steve Carell is his alter ego Captain Hogie, a World War 2 pilot in a never ending fight against the Nazis. Captain Hogie is aided by Marwen’s band of women (all dolls also). These female dolls are all a part of Mark’s real life support system his visiting nurse, a therapist, hobby shop owner and Wendy. Wendy, who is only seen as a doll is key to Marwen. Marwen is a combination of their names Mark and Wendy.
This movie has shades of Forrest Gump (no box of chocolates, but dolls), Back to The Future (with a Time machine vehicle) and a bit of Roger Rabbitt. It seems like this is the year of longhaired red heads in movies (see Aquaman). Fantasy and reality clash for Mark, when the red headed real neighbor Nicol, isn’t as into Mark the way red headed doll Nicol is into Captain Hogie. Doll love doesn’t translate to the real thing Mark, sorry.
This had the potential to be a really good movie. The live action portion of this is good and keeps you engaged, but the doll sequences overpower the storyline. I’m not going to get into the whole bad witch doll, and the evils of taking too many green pain pills (there is a correlation).
Marwen is rated C minus. Don’t worry about not being able to go to an 8 or 10pm movie screening, it’ll be available in Red Box soon. If you are a Steve Carell fan, pay full price. All others, wait for at least a fifty cents off coupon code. Hint…this is probably better seen with an alcoholic beverage. I prefer the South American reds.
Comments