A father (Rainn Wilson) and young son (Devin Brochu) struggling with loss in their family receive unexpected help from a Heavy Metal antihero in director Spencer Susser's aching-to-be-hip comedy "Hesher". Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives his all as the sinister-on-the- outside rocker but Susser and co-writer David Michôd fail to supply enough laughs to keep the story afloat. After premiering in U.S.
Dramatic Competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, strong critical reviews look unlikely for Susser's debut feature film.
However, "Hesher" can claim a marquee cast (Wilson, Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman) and a strong connection with fan boys that should help attract audiences when Newmarket releases the Sundance comedy in U.S. art-houses later this year.
13-year-old TJ Forney (newcomer Devin Brochu) is still coming to terms with the accidental death of his mother. His grief is nothing compared to the depressed state of his father Paul (Rainn Wilson) who barely functions. Unexpected help arrives via a bullying metal head named Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Hesher abandons his van to move in with TJ and before long the uninvited rock rebel helps TJ, Paul and TJ's friend Nicole (Natalie Portman) heal.
Gordon-Levitt ("(500) Days of Summer", "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" and the upcoming "Inception") sports long, Jesus-like hair, dirty briefs and amateur tattoos as the somewhat mysterious Hesher (perhaps inspired by his bother, a professional fire-spinner). Gordon-Levitt is plenty funny; tossing lawn furniture into a swimming pool and popping up when least expected. That is until the storytelling from Susser and co-writer David Michôd (adapting a story by Brian Charles
Frank) loses momentum. Gordon-Levitt is quickly becoming a go-to guy among young male actors. Still, there are limits to what he can do when a script fails to deliver.
Natalie Portman (making her debut as a producer) helps ground the story as TJ's friend Nicole, who also becomes an unwitting object of the teenager's affection. Young Devin Brochu is an able comic foil opposite Gordon-Levitt. Rainn Wilson is believable as the emotionally detached father, although his comic talents are sorely missed.\
Susser's short film "I Love Sarah Jane" (starring Mia Wasikowska from Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland") is a clever variation of zombie thrillers and in a way "Hesher" is a variation of the dysfunctional family comedy made popular by "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Little Miss Sunshine".
"Napoleon" and "Sunshine" are worthy sources of comic inspiration, as well as the "Cat in the Hat", with Hesher as a troublemaker who brings TJ on necessary adventure. While "Hesher" shows plenty of technical polish and visual cleverness, Susser fails to provide a much-needed spark of originality.
The film's standout surprise is the warm and cuddly theme behind the metal soundtrack and physical comedy that help can come from the most unlikely people. That's a lesson that may surprise the fan boys busy laughing at Hesher's slapstick gags.
Distributor: Newmarket
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman, Rainn Wilson, Devin Brochu and Piper Laurie
Director: Spencer Susser
Screenwriter: Spencer Susser, David Michôd based on a story by Brian Charles Frank
Cinematographer: Morgan Pierre
Editor: Michael McCusker
Producers: Handsomecharlie Films and Last Picture Co. and Corner Store Entertainment Running Time: 100 min
Rating: R
