THE LOBSTER  1***

   In the bizaar world of “The Lobster”, single people are not only ostracized, they are completely outlawed. Newly single people( whether just turning 21, widowed or divorced) have to find a partner within 45 days or they are turned into an animal of their choosing. The singles are sent to a luxury hotel for the mating opportunity. David (a fleshy Colin Farrell) has recently been dumped by his wife and has chosen to be turned into a Lobster if he is not successful. Accompanying him at the hotel is a dog, in fact it is his brother who was transformed into a dog. If he chooses not to conform and do the transformation at the end of the 45 days, he would have to go on the run and live as a loner in the wilderness. Normal society does not want loners.

The society and government of “The Lobster” pits  single people against couple people at opposite sides of a war. The runaway Loners are literally hunted down like wild animals and those who manage to survive  run guerrilla operations exposing the hypocrisy of the couple people and break couples up by releasing truth bombs that cannot be recovered from. Both sides of the social divide are run by tyrannical leaders, enforcing their world view with extreme acts of violence and humiliation for those who break the rules. Weird characters drift throughout, delivering their lines with a total  lack of awareness or emotion, strange rituals are performed to encourage  the singles to couple-up ( such as the hotel maid doing a grinding lap dance for male singles and elaborate pretentious ceremonies to honor a new couple) , and all the time the clock is ticking - find a partner, become a couple, within 45 days or be turned into an animal of your choice.

While it has an interesting concept in theory, the monotone dialogue, the sheer darkness and violence of the last half of the film, and the less than human performances throughout quickly drag this bazaar film down into a repulsive unpleasant place. And the ending is horrible. If this is supposed to be a satire of society, then Lord help us. Also, even really good satires do not always make good movies and this one misses the mark by a country mile.

You can’t help but wonder how in the world the likes of Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, John C. Riley and the rest of the cast would agree to lend their talents to such a dismal film.

Some may call this a dark comedy, however, you probably won't laugh at all. Others may call this a master piece of satire. However,  I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts that the vast majority who endure this film will probably walk out calling it something completely different… such as horrible, a complete waste of time, or just plain garbage or stupid .

DO NOT go to see this awful movie unless you have never experienced depression and want to try it out.

Rated R for sexual content including dialogue, and violence and cruelty.

Clark

PS: As I say, I go to see “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly… this time I saw the “Bad and the Ugly” !!!