Written and directed by Jeff Balsmeyer
Worth A Look
This is a terrific and original romantic fantasy from Australia that was a blip on the big screen upon release in 2004 but almost deserves to become a cult classic. I say almost because it’s not quite as outlandish as its plot, inspired by the true story of the infamous “Lawnchair Larry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Walters) would indicate: a bored city man ties helium-filled balloons to a lawn chair and takes flight, reinventing himself in the far-off, quaint town he lands in and finding his true soul mate. Though clearly the plot is out there enough to have kept audiences at arms’ length, who could not be faulted for expecting a too-quirky or sentimental fable, first-time writer/director Jeff Balsmeyer, an experienced story-board artist with an extraordinary list of credits, keeps the tone light and easy and while the film is filled with sentiment, it avoids outright sentimentality and the earnestness that would have upended the balancing act such a film requires. The result is a disarmingly good romantic fantasy.
Lead actors Rhys Ifans and the immensely likable Miranda Otto imbue their scenes (even and especially the “touching” ones) with heartfelt nuance, and the movie floats along sweetly, occasionally surprising with outstanding special effects and stunts. Shots of Ifans character being catapulted by a giant slingshot and floating on the chair into a lightening storm are rendered entirely believable. A truly funny comedy-fantasy about love that is heartfelt, surprising and filled with great performances: what more can you ask? Definitely worth a look; available from Netflix.
Review by Michael Fishman.
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