Review: Hesher

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Sometimes life gives you the finger.

T.J (Devin Brochu) is a bullied child who has just lost his mother in a car accident. He encounters Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) a crude, greasy, and pyro happy man that brings chaos into T.J's life. He takes up residence with him, T.J's father (Rainn Wilson) is too catatonic from his wife's death to barely question why this adult is hanging around his young child. His grandmother (Piper Laurie) is to sweet to question it either. Hesher stirs up trouble by screwing with a teen that bullies T.J, setting fire to random things, and ultimately butting into the relationship T.J has with a shy store clerk (Natalie Portman) who comes to his rescue early on in the film. In T.J's words: "What the fuck is wrong with this guy?"

Hesher is a very original story that balances both hard topics and light comedy with ease. Hesher's habit of using inappropriate past experiences as metaphors for deeper feelings is amusing. Piper Laurie is so sweet as the grandmother that when Hesher teaches her how to use a bong for her medical marijuana it's hysterical. But the film is definitely more drama than comedy. It deals with some pretty dark issues and I have to say Rainn Wilson and Devin Brochu pull off grieving family members wonderfully. In fact, Brochu gives one of the best child performances I've seen in a long time. Gordon-Levitt, as always is wonderful and looked like he had a lot of fun playing Hesher. There were a few far fetched things in the film that were never quite explained, but ultimately it was an interesting and original film with a sweet and symbolic ending for T.J and his family.

Recommended: Yes

Grade: A-

Memorable Quote: "I still have a nut...and it works!" - Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)

Comments

  1. Candice FrederickSeptember 20, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    i wish i liked this more. i found myself bored in a lot of places. though i did like jgl's takeon the character.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 21, 2011 at 1:03 PM

    Rainn Wilson is an awesome actor and if you are into movies that are just bizarre, then Hesher is a movie you need to see if you haven’t seen it already. One way you can see it is by using Blockbuster Online. Right now if you switch to DISH Network you can get Blockbuster Online FREE for 3 months! There are over 100,000 titles to choose from. As a DISH Network customer and employee I can tell you that if you’re in the mood for movies that aren’t in your queue, that’s no problem! You can get a different title right now with instant in-store exchanges (you can’t do that with Netflix). More info online at http://bit.ly/isAh2e

    ReplyDelete

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