I think you have missed the point of ‘The Animal’ completely. It is truly brilliant.
First off there is Schneider himself, with the acrobatic dexterous slapstick genius that is only equalled by Keaton and Chaplin while his characterisation of a failing, loser, police office evidence clerk is the equal to any performance put in by Brando, Olivia, Hopkins or Curry.
The production values, while not overly high, portray an attention to detail unrivalled by any feature length, live action, slapstick, animal based comedy that came out that year. Whilst the script is as cutting and contemporary as anything produced by a Hollywood studio, the directing demonstrates a brilliance that a comedy (even of this calibre) rarely get the luxury of having.
The over loud animal noises, the nob gags, the bum gags, the brilliant juxtaposing of ‘funny’ animal related physical jokes and human social events that on the face of it a 7 year old could have wrote but in reality could only have been penned by a genius.
The plot is brilliant, inspired and in places truly emotional. (I don’t want to spoil this truly great movie so don’t read on if you haven’t seen it).
Mourning the loss of his father, Marvin has to come to terms with his inability to find a companion and his spiralling out of control lack of self confidence. Ostracised by his work colleagues, ritually abused by his neighbour (and her viscous dog) and devoid of any and all satisfaction personally and professionally. Its to this backdrop that Marvin suffers a hideous debilitating car accident but is miraculously saved by having his DNA spliced with an unknown amount of domesticated animal DNA and having some body part replacement.
The movie covers politically hot topics such as whether using animal DNA in humans is acceptable, the ethics of breeding animals for body parts, the threat of hunting on animal populations and the cost of animal conservation, that cannibalism is acceptable and that bestiality is…ok. This is not to mention the exploration between god, man and animal and the questions regarding animal consciousness.
This is apart form the everyday elements of work place rivalry, racism, fatism, sexism, gun control, murder, meat eating and monkey jokes.
On a personal level, I have watched this movie 1000 times and have yet to not find it funny, I literarily end up doubled up in pain, crying.....with laughter its just that good. I challenge anyone to get through this movie and not laugh at one joke, its not possible. Brilliant brilliant brilliant.
The bit where the scientist suggest Marvin get rid of his latent aggression fuelled by his sexul urge by sleeping with a chimpanzee in a pink tutu is possibly the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life...my life!! If you don’t laugh at this movie your just dead inside.
Mr Schneider we salute you another fantastic movie, lets hope he ignores the billions of ignorant critics, the unjust reviews and the failing box office returns and goes on to make the animal 2 and 3. Brilliant!
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