The Giant Mechanical Man (PG-13)

Jenna Fischer and Chris Messina in The Giant Mechanical Man

Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5
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Time Out says

Mon Apr 23 2012

Writer-director Lee Kirk digs himself an enormous robot-sized hole with the dreadful title of his first feature, in which a silver-sprayed street performer (Chris Messina) starts acting the part of a dehumanized, if fairly normal-size, mechanical gent. But a winsome, though clunky, romance mercifully sidelines the obvious symbolism to focus on the lost-soul bond between this would-be man machine and an adrift ex–temp worker (Jenna Fischer) as both find work in a Detroit zoo. Kirk, who wed Fischer in 2010, perfectly captures her all-thumbs charm, and ubiquitous character actor Messina steps into the lead with ease, showing off some impressive mime skills to boot.

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Release details

Rated:

PG-13

US release:

Fri Apr 27 2012

Duration:

94 mins

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Comments & ratings

Rated as: 3/5 (1 rating)

  • Most of these indie romantic comedies are simply awful exploitation films, lacking strong characters, and worst of all, usually have terrible chemistry between the two leads. To that end, Jenna Fischer and Chris Messina exude a natural chemistry that never seems too forced or awkward, despite both of their characters being kind of awkward losers. From the moment they meet (in a great scene which was also made better by the use of "Our Bleeding Hearts" by Great Northern) Fischer and Messina's characters play so well off each other that I was able to forgive this movie for having a few common problems with this genre (such as Topher Grace's 'rival' character who is really just a cartoon pardoy). I'll give this a solid 7/10.

    darci Thu Sep 6 2012
    Rated as: 3/5
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