Frenemy (2010/Lionsgate DVD)

Picture: C+     Sound: C     Extras: D     Film: C-

Originally released under the title of Little Fish, Strange Pond in 2009, this film has now been brought out under the new title of Frenemy. There have been no changes to the film itself, just a greater focus in the marketing that plays up the fact that Zach Galifianakis makes an appearance. His role is rather insignificant, and he doesn’t get much screen time, but you’d never know that by looking at the packaging - his face is plastered everywhere.

The other sin the advertising commits is that by appearances, this film should be a wacky comedy. Nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, it is a rather lame drama that attempts to be dark, but is ultimately just poorly structured and purposely confusing.

Throughout the entirety of the movie, it is as though the filmmakers were looking to other films for direction, but only in a cut and paste sort of way. The brilliance of those other films has been lost on a group of people who cannot comprehend what made them good to begin with. Certainly, much of the style of this movie is cribbed from the films of both Kevin Smith and David Lynch… Smith gets robbed of his conversation, Lynch of his overall mood.

The poor mish-mash of styles isn’t the only problem - the dialogue is some of the most unrealistic and nauseating stuff I’ve heard in a while, and the character Mr. Jack’s fake British accent is grating beyond all imagination.

Profanity is tossed around in the movie without any thought. While I have nothing against its use, it is a poor crutch to stand on when it punctuates nearly every sentence in an effort to make your film more subversive.

The picture is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and is of average quality. The sound is in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, but exhibits flaws typical of a low budget sound recording with all the sonic limits and lack of soundfield.

Extra content includes a trailer for the film, but no other special features.

I do not feel that I can recommend this movie very highly to anyone. There will certainly be fans of it, and some will watch this under false impressions and still be pleasantly surprised at its content. I was not one of them, and feel that the telling of this story is both amateur and far too self-congratulatory to be of merit.

Buyer beware.

-   David Milchick