Linoleum

SXSW 2022 Greetings again from the darkness. For those of us who spend entirely too many hours of our life watching movies, it's always a welcome pleasure to stumble upon one that is creative and innovative and entertaining. The first feature film from writer-director Colin West is all that, plus it's funny and touching and features some science. As an added bonus, it features the always great Jim Gaffigan in a dual starring role.

Mr. Gaffigan stars as Cameron, a middle-aged guy who writes, acts, and films an educational children's science show for Public Access TV titled, "Above and Beyond". Imagine a blend of Carl Sagan and Bill Nye the Science Guy. It's a show he and his wife Erin (Rhea Seehorn, "Better Call Saul") started together, but now she works at the local Air & Space Museum as the two await the finalization of their divorce.

Cameron has been waiting patiently for a preferred time slot, and one day his producer delivers news that's both good and bad. The show is being picked up for distribution, but they have hired a new host. In what is anything but the oddest thing to happen so far in the story, Cameron can't help but notice how much he and the new host look alike - although the personality differences are startling. It turns out the new guy bought the house right across the street from Cameron and Erin, and new guy has a teenage son, Marc (Gabriel Rush), who awkwardly befriends their daughter Nora (Katelyn Nacon).

When a satellite crashes in his yard, Cameron seizes the opportunity to become the astronaut he always dreamt of being by attempting to re-build the tangled mess into a custom rocket ship. Obviously I have left out many details in an effort to avoid spoilers for a story that is at times surreal, and can be best enjoyed going in cold. Other familiar faces appearing briefly in supporting roles include Tony Shalhoub, Amy Hargreaves, and Michael Ian Black. We have seen parallel universe films before, but filmmaker Colin West treats us to something a bit different. It may seem like a low-key affair, but "it's not that simple." Narrative Feature Competition Category - SXSW.

Linoleum starts off as a quirky little indie comedy about a nice guy whose life isn't going so well and he gets an idea to build a rocket. There are all sorts of goofy confusing things happening and a few things that outright make no sense...until they do. The movie blindsided me with a hard turn towards the end that not only explained everything I didn't understand, but wrapped it all up into a neat package.

Jim Gaffigan was excellent! I was particularly impressed with the second character he played, who was more outside of his wheelhouse. He almost could have been mistaken for Ned Beatty at moments. Gabriel Rush is becoming a fine young actor. Rhea Seehorn is good, but she needs to break out from that career oriented woman role she always plays.

The overall look and feel of the movie was just right. I'll be keep an eye out for this director. I may be a little be generous with an 8, but I'm rounding up.

There are a lot of little stories and side plots and characters that are subtly intertwined and come together in the end. That may not make a lot of sense, but it might once you watch the movie. I can't imagine how someone could have the creativity to think of this movie, let alone write it. It kind of renews your faith in movies as a whole; a creative, original work can still be put out there.

This movie is categorized as comedy, drama, and sci-fi, but it's actually mostly drama. Also, I was expecting Jim Gaffigan to be wacky and funny, and he is quirky and humorous in the movie, but his role is mostly serious and he does a surprisingly good job.

This movie has its funny moments but is definitely not a comedy. Jim Gaffigan is great. Rhea is great. The movie is more like Cloud Atlas though. When it all comes together at the end, one is pleasantly surprised. We were waiting for the funny that never really happened. Couple of plot holes that are never filled in. Glad it was only six dollars to watch. I'd recommend waiting till it's free somewhere. Jim Gaffigan shows he can do drama in this one. You see some of Rhea Seahorn's fun side toward the end but she could extend upon that. I'm glad I rented this flick but it was definitely not a typical comedy.

Jim Gaffigan plays Cameron Edwin, a gentle man, and aspiring astronaut with a daughter and wife who is to soon divorce him. When the job he loves as a children's tv science program presenter is taken from him, he decides to do something special - with the help of his ailing father he sets out to build a rocket to take him into space. Strange little things start taking place which Cameron doesn't understand including an old woman's frequent appearance and the fact that the father of his daughter's new friend looks very much like Cameron.

Sweet natured, rather lovely film with a glowing, fatherly turn from Gaffigan. The events, whilst strange and often without motive, reason or real direction don't trouble the viewer and all in all it's an enjoyable, bewildering but pleasant journey. Where it will really get to you is in the clever and slightly heart wrenching climactic 15 minutes where everything that has occurred is explained - and it doesn't disappoint.