A business course on ruthless industrialism camouflaged as a slacker comedy: Thats the kindest method to explain Michael Lehmanns Flakes, a motion picture that shares the smug, hipper-than-thou sensibility of its sour protagonist, Neal Downs (Aaron Stanford).
An aspiring rock artist who manages a New Orleans eatery where the only costs of fare is breakfast cereal, Neal is a reflexively sarcastic deadbeat whose similarly sour girlfriend, Pussy Katz (Zooey Deschanel), shares his bohemian dream of taking a trip the country in an Airstream trailer, making music and art.
The walls of the dining establishment, called Flakes, are lined with cereal boxes, including uncommon terminated brands. As customers slop up unique mixes, the movie suggests a deadpan satire of gourmet fetishism. One home specialty chocolate-flavored grains steeped in chocolate milk sounds especially nauseating.
Owned by Willie (Christopher Lloyd), a decrepit hippie geezer with mad-scientist hair, Flakes hops along as a hangout for deadbeats until Browse around this site a bright-eyed yuppie visitor, Stuart (Keir ODonnell), proposes turning it into a rewarding franchise. When Willie and Neal reveal no interest, Stuart establishes a rival Flakes across the street, and the New Orleans cereal wars begin.
Hoping to put Stuart out of organization, Neal starts playing unclean techniques, the nastiest of which is the distribution of fliers to the homeless promising 10 complimentary bowls per client at his rivals establishment. The trick triggers a near-riot that Stuart masterfully turns to his advantage.
Neals new live-in relationship with Pussy begins to curdle when she turns traitor and goes to work for the competition, hoping that the death of the original Flakes will leave Neal with time to finish his CD. If the name of his band, Cereal Killers, is perfectly selected, its music is a joke.
As soon as lawyers end up being associated with the dispute, the films anti-establishment mindset vaporizes, as does the teeny little levity Flakes has produced.
FLAKES
Opens on Wednesday in Manhattan; also on Video on Demand.
Directed by Michael Lehmann; written by Chris Poche and Karey Kirkpatrick; director of photography, Nancy Schreiber; edited by Nicholas C. Smith; music by Jason Derlatka and Jon Ehrlich; produced by Gary Winick and Jake Abraham; released by IFC First Take. At the IFC Center, 323 Opportunity of the Americas, at Third Street, Greenwich Town. Running time: 1 hour 24 minutes. This film is not rated.
WITH: Aaron Stanford (Neal Downs), Zooey Deschanel (Miss Pussy Katz), Christopher Lloyd (Willie), Frank Wood (Bruce), Ryan Donowho (Skinny Larry), Izabella Miko (Strawberry) and Keir ODonnell (Stuart).