Spork [DVD]

There is no denying that the whimsical "Spork" is an underdog story that you really want to root for. Even with its over-the-top performances, rampant quirkiness, and confrontational humor, it really abides by every expected mean girl versus misfit cliche that you can imagine. Yet with its amateur and homemade appeal and its willingness to wallow in bad taste heaven, it feels like a middle school variation of John Waters' "Hairspray" (you know, prior to the musical version). I mean that as a compliment, sort of. The film lacks a professional polish that might make it a mainstream crossover. It just seems so inexpensive, so underground, but I'm confident that was the filmmaker's intention. It embraces its badness and tackiness with zealous glee. Some people will find that outrageously entertaining, some might find the picture garish and obvious. I'll admit, I laughed in equal proportion to the amount of time I spent rolling my eyes. I might have more whole-heartedly embraced the lunacy if the screenplay had ever veered from its preordained (and very familiar) plot course. A few surprises would have been nice amidst the inventive combination of bad taste and wistfulness.

At the heart of the movie is Savannah Stehlin as Spork. Stehlin has a pleasing deadpan as the bedraggled and relatively lifeless middle school outcast. Taunted and just trying to survive, she must contend with the regular tribulations of junior high existence. There is a ruthless clique of mean girls, a sexually ambiguous love interest, and a sassy neighbor who pushes Spork to participate more fully in the world. At home, Spork lives an impoverished life with her brother and imagines being reunited with her dead mother. She sees her opportunity to make her dreams come true with a school dance competition and, as unlikely as it seems, she faces the challenge head-on. Will pluck and determination be rewarded? Will the mean girls get their comeuppance? Is it possible for Spork to succeed and be accepted? While I won't reveal any surprises--I suspect you'll already know the answers.

With every actor embracing loud caricatures of existing stereotypes, it sometimes seems challenging to get to the real heart of "Spork." And yet, as the movie progresses, we do get to see the truth behind some of the characters. A late scene between Spork and her brother seems ill-fitting with the rest of the outrageousness, but it is an unexpectedly nuanced moment that adds a needed dimension. Of all the actors, it is the ridiculously upbeat Sydney Park (of course named Tootsie Roll) that manages to steal her every scene. I don't know that I always believed her, but she executed her lines and attitude with hysterical precision. If you like these underdog stories, there are easy reasons to recommend "Spork." I, personally, wished the screenplay had been more focused on character but I still had a relatively good time. KGHarris, 1/12.

I watched this because Netflix recommended it. THANK YOU, NETFLIX! I loved every moment. From the old-school video games sounds in the beginning to the mentions of The Wiz to the dance-off at the end, I was hooked. If you liked (or loved) Welcome to the Dollhouse and/or Napoleon Dynamite, this movie is for you.

I loved that the characters dressed in late 80s/early 90s garb. That doesn't mean the film is set in that era; they speak frequently of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.

Sure, much of the overall plot is easy to figure out, but the way it is presented is entirely unique. The fact that Spork is a hermaphrodite is certainly new. The fact she has a dong isn't, by any means, the focus of the movie. We all felt as though we were freaks at 14, didn't we?

Wow, oh wow! This is one of the quirkiest movies I have ever seen and right up my alley!

Let it be said this kind of humour isn't for everyone. It's a fine mix of "is it terrible", "is it awesome", "so terrible it IS awesome". Not everyone is willing to sit around to find out. Some people are going to love it, some are gonna hate it, and some will be left going "What did I just watch?". Which granted was my reaction at first.
That said, I enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would. From the first moments I braced myself for a theme of trying too hard to be cool and what eerily reminded me of "Napoleon Dynamite"..

On the surface this movie may seem shallow, taking a cheap shot at trying to be different and over the top. Give it a chance because while it's kind of weird, we're all kind of weird (sometimes). Embrace your closet strangeness and look for the deeper message. A truly clever movie, from the simple silly names (Betsy Byotch), the stereotypical race/gender roles, to how everything means something and works in it's own way.