An organization course on aggressive capitalism camouflaged as a slacker comedy: Thats the kindest method to explain Michael Lehmanns Flakes, a movie that shares the smug, hipper-than-thou sensibility of its sour protagonist, Neal Downs (Aaron Stanford).
An ambitious rock musician who handles a New Orleans restaurant where the only expense of fare is breakfast cereal, Neal is a reflexively sarcastic deadbeat whose similarly sour sweetheart, 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 restaurant, called Flakes, are lined with cereal boxes, consisting of uncommon stopped brands. As consumers slop up Discover more unique combinations, the movie recommends a deadpan spoof of gourmet fetishism. One home specialty chocolate-flavored grains soaked in chocolate milk sounds especially nauseating.
Owned by Willie (Christopher Lloyd), a run-down hippie geezer with mad-scientist hair, Flakes limps along as a hangout for deadbeats up until a bright-eyed yuppie visitor, Stuart (Keir ODonnell), proposes turning it into a financially rewarding franchise. When Willie and Neal reveal no interest, Stuart establishes a competing Flakes across the street, and the New Orleans cereal wars start.
Wishing to put Stuart out of service, Neal begins playing filthy techniques, the nastiest of which is the circulation of fliers to the homeless appealing 10 complimentary bowls per client at his competitors establishment. The trick sets off a near-riot that Stuart masterfully turns to his benefit.
Neals new live-in relationship with Pussy begins to curdle when she turns traitor and goes to work for the competitors, hoping that the demise of the original Flakes will leave Neal with time to complete his CD. If the name of atrioventricular bundle, Cereal Killers, is perfectly chosen, its music is a joke.
As soon as legal representatives become associated with the disagreement, the films anti-establishment attitude vaporizes, as does the teeny little bit of levity Flakes has generated.
FLAKES
Opens on Wednesday in Manhattan; likewise on Video as needed.
Directed by Michael Lehmann; composed 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; 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 film 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).