A business course on fierce capitalism camouflaged as a slacker comedy: Thats the kindest way to explain Michael Lehmanns Flakes, a film that shares the smug, hipper-than-thou sensibility of its sour protagonist, Neal Downs (Aaron Stanford).
An ambitious rock artist who handles a New Orleans eatery where the only bill of fare is breakfast cereal, Neal is a reflexively ironical deadbeat whose similarly sour girlfriend, Pussy Katz (Zooey Deschanel), shares his bohemian dream of taking a trip the nation in an Airstream trailer, making music and art.
The walls of the dining establishment, called Flakes, are lined with cereal boxes, including uncommon terminated brand names. As consumers slop up unique combinations, the motion picture suggests a deadpan spoof of gourmet fetishism. One home specialized 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 until a bright-eyed nouveau riche visitor, Stuart (Keir ODonnell), proposes turning it into a rewarding franchise. When Willie and Neal reveal no interest, Stuart establishes a rival Flakes across the street, and the New Orleans cereal wars begin.
Intending to put Stuart out of service, Neal starts playing filthy tricks, the nastiest of which is the circulation of fliers to the homeless appealing 10 free bowls per client at his competitors establishment. The trick triggers a near-riot that Stuart masterfully relies on his advantage.
Neals brand-new live-in relationship with Pussy begins to curdle when she turns traitor and goes to work for the competitors, hoping that the death of the initial Flakes will leave Neal with time to finish his CD. If the name of his band, Cereal Killers, is completely picked, its music is a joke.
When lawyers become involved in the disagreement, the motion pictures anti-establishment attitude evaporates, as does the teeny bit of levity Flakes has produced.
FLAKES
Opens on Wednesday in Manhattan; also on Video on Demand.
Directed by Michael Learn more here Lehmann; written 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; released by IFC First Take. At the IFC Center, 323 Avenue of the Americas, at Third Street, Greenwich Village. 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).