Spring Break
Wicked humor and skilled acting save Choke
Issue date: 10/2/08
Chuckle, cough, cough, tear, drool Â- bring a drunk friend to see Choke, the new film based on the Chuck Palahniuk novel of the same name for twice the fun. Most people with a dark tint to their sense of humor and a healthy sex drive cannot help but appreciate its twisted feel-good antics. More importantly, the intoxicated tend to form a hilarious and somewhat touching connection with the screen. Tastefully yelling obscenities, laughing hysterically at inappropriate moments, or starring blankly in awe, inebriation prompts several reactions to this film, far from the least of which is a profound sense of respect.
After the third or fourth hush from various audience members, your friend will lean uncomfortably close to you, his breath a fermentation of beer and popcorn, in order to whisper in a tone louder than his normal speaking voice "if I were that guy I would rock that s--- man. He's getting laid all the time! He doesn't give a f---; all he needs to do is pretend to build s--- from yore and eat too much." Although blatantly tactless, this comment (or your friend's variation of it) aptly captures the essence of this film.
Choke misleads many viewers with its advertising. In the first place, the title (which is more appropriate of the book) misdirects the viewer. The main character, Victor Mancini, played by Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind), causes himself to choke in restaurants. Other diners perform the Heimlich maneuver, and, in the process of saving his life, they develop a connection with him and a sense of bravado. These scenes, however, embody at most a subplot vital for its progression of insightful themes and character traits.
The bulk of the film consists of the pursuit of sexual fulfillment. Along these lines, a secondary misconception stems from its association with the legendary neo-noir, Fight Club. Chuck Palahniuk wrote the novels that inspired both films; here the similarities between the two end. Despite an underlying morbidity and perversion, Choke is a relatively light-hearted, dark comedy. Expect an uproarious and deranged sexcapade from a colonial theme park to the psychiatric ward of a hospital. Forget about expert special effects complementing grainy, shadow ridden, green-tinted cinematography.
After the third or fourth hush from various audience members, your friend will lean uncomfortably close to you, his breath a fermentation of beer and popcorn, in order to whisper in a tone louder than his normal speaking voice "if I were that guy I would rock that s--- man. He's getting laid all the time! He doesn't give a f---; all he needs to do is pretend to build s--- from yore and eat too much." Although blatantly tactless, this comment (or your friend's variation of it) aptly captures the essence of this film.
Choke misleads many viewers with its advertising. In the first place, the title (which is more appropriate of the book) misdirects the viewer. The main character, Victor Mancini, played by Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind), causes himself to choke in restaurants. Other diners perform the Heimlich maneuver, and, in the process of saving his life, they develop a connection with him and a sense of bravado. These scenes, however, embody at most a subplot vital for its progression of insightful themes and character traits.
The bulk of the film consists of the pursuit of sexual fulfillment. Along these lines, a secondary misconception stems from its association with the legendary neo-noir, Fight Club. Chuck Palahniuk wrote the novels that inspired both films; here the similarities between the two end. Despite an underlying morbidity and perversion, Choke is a relatively light-hearted, dark comedy. Expect an uproarious and deranged sexcapade from a colonial theme park to the psychiatric ward of a hospital. Forget about expert special effects complementing grainy, shadow ridden, green-tinted cinematography.
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