A service course on cutthroat industrialism disguised as a slacker funny: Thats the kindest way to explain Michael Lehmanns Flakes, a motion picture that shares the smug, hipper-than-thou perceptiveness of its sour lead character, Neal Downs (Aaron Stanford).
An ambitious rock musician who manages a New Orleans eatery where the only expense of fare is breakfast cereal, Neal is a reflexively sarcastic deadbeat whose equally sour sweetheart, Pussy Katz (Zooey Deschanel), shares his bohemian dream of traveling the country in an Airstream trailer, making music and art.
The walls of the dining establishment, called Flakes, are lined with cereal boxes, including unusual stopped brands. As consumers slop up unique combinations, the film recommends a deadpan satire of gourmet fetishism. One home specialty chocolate-flavored grains soaked in chocolate milk sounds especially nauseating.
Owned by Willie (Christopher Lloyd), a decrepit hippie geezer with mad-scientist hair, Flakes limps along as a hangout for deadbeats until a bright-eyed yuppie visitor, Stuart (Keir ODonnell), proposes turning it into a financially rewarding franchise. When Willie and Neal express no interest, Stuart develops a competing Flakes across the street, and the New Orleans cereal wars begin.
Intending to put Stuart out of company, Neal begins playing dirty tricks, the nastiest of which is the distribution of fliers to the homeless promising 10 totally free bowls per client at his competitors facility. The trick triggers a near-riot that Stuart masterfully relies on his benefit.
Neals new live-in relationship with Pussy starts 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 atrioventricular bundle, Cereal Killers, is perfectly picked, its music is a joke.
When legal representatives end up being involved in the disagreement, the motion pictures anti-establishment attitude evaporates, as does the tiny bit of levity Flakes has created.
FLAKES
Opens on Wednesday in Manhattan; also on Video as needed.
Directed by Michael Lehmann; written by Chris Poche and Karey Kirkpatrick; director of photography, Nancy Schreiber; modified by Nicholas C. Smith; music by Jason Derlatka and Website link Jon Ehrlich; produced by Gary Winick and Jake Abraham; launched 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 movie is not ranked.
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).