Swiss Army Man - Film Review

If at any point during your viewing of Swiss Army Man, you find yourself thinking, “What the hell have I gotten myself into?” know this: you are not alone. The tale of a man marooned on a desert island who befriends a talking corpse with magical abilities (including powerful flatulence), was met with walk-outs at its Sundance premiere. If what you’ve seen in the trailers hasn’t piqued your interest, the final product will do little to change your mind. If, however, you approach the film with an open heart and mind, you’ll discover Swiss Army Man to be one of the most unique, funny and oddly touching efforts released this year.

Swiss Army Man is the brainchild of filmmaking duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, a.k.a. ‘Daniels.’ They got their start directing music videos, their most notable being ‘Turn Down For What,' which features a young man humping things into oblivion. If you’ve had the immense pleasure of seeing the video for yourself, you’re well-aware these guys have a distinct, completely off-the-wall vision and that manic mindset translates to the big screen in spectacular fashion. This is without question one of the most visually unique and beautiful films I’ve seen. There’s a transcendent, dream-like quality to everything that happens; the film seems to exist on a whole other plane of existence.

But while the Daniels certainly deserve credit for coming up with this strange and wonderful thing, it’s Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe who make Swiss Army Man truly soar. Even when the storytelling doesn’t fully gel – it meanders from time to time, and the ending in particular feels purposefully designed to polarize the audience - their heartfelt, fully devoted performances keep you riveted. And while Dano is always a delight, it’s Radcliffe in particular who deserves heaps of praise for his portrayal of a mostly immobile and expressionless corpse. He imbues Manny (the corpse) with such humanity and genuine curiosity that you instantly fall in love with the guy. A large portion of the film features Dano’s character Hank explaining the intricacies of life and love and all their complexities to help Manny remember what it means to be alive. The simple profundities of Hank’s explanations and Manny’s innocent, wide-eyed reactions and comprehension of them are both hilarious and deeply moving. In a perfect world, Dano and Radcliffe would win all the awards. For now, they’ll just have to settle for my undying love and affection, which I am happy to dish out in spades.

Another element of Swiss Army Man that stands out is its soundtrack. Composed and performed by Andy Hull and Robert McDowell of Manchester Orchestra, it sounds like something Animal Collective would have recorded after they’d spent a month alone in a forest under the influence of every drug imaginable (come to think of it, this might be how they record their music regardless). I loved the way the score was integrated with the action. At random points throughout the film, both Manny and Hank spontaneously burst into song (Dano and Radcliffe should seriously consider recording an album together). There’s a particular point where Manny breaks into a melancholic take of Cotton Eye Joe, and despite the song’s inherently ridiculous nature, this rendition is surprisingly beautiful and the way it plays in the movie nearly moved me to tears. I know that sounds insane, but you’ll understand when you see it.

Come to think of it, that’s probably the best way to describe Swiss Army Man: something that seems inherently ridiculous when explained, but when experienced, has the power to move and affect you in ways you never could have imagined. Though its plotting might be uneven, its ending somewhat unsatisfying, Swiss Army Man is undeniably effective as a visual and emotional experience. The Daniels have paved the way for a promising career and Radcliffe and Dano have further cemented themselves as my man-crushes. What more could anyone ask?

FINAL RATING: 4/5