This is certainly a bizarre production. I went in less as a John Cameron Mitchell fan (Though I did enjoy Hedwig & even to an extent Shortbus) and more as a Neil Gaiman fan. I had no clue how such a short, strange, and vague story could really be adapted and Mitchell's answer was less to make a film out of the story and its implications - but his own film, in his own style, with his own themes based upon the skeleton of the story.
And it works, provided you can tune into this films wavelength. It's an intentionally weird film; extremely campy, often stupid, and very heavily targeted towards an LGBT friendly demographic (In spite of the heterosexual main couple.). If you enjoy some of the more out there films from that crowd including some of Mitchell's previous films, you might be able to find How to Talk to Girls at Parties as charming as I did.
It's not a great film by any stretch and it ends on an admittedly confusing note that I'm not sure I fully understood. It doesn't stick the landing when it comes to delivering on the sci-fi elements implied in the original short story. But one could argue that wasn't the point. It's clear this movie just wants to have fun.
And fun it is! The characters are charming, there's some fun dialogue & gags, and the playful sexuality of the film is something that appeals to me as a member of the LGBT community. But it's easy to understand why this film is going to appeal to a very small niche.
To quote Gaiman himself on the film: Watch the trailer. If that looks like a film you'll enjoy, go ahead and see it. If the style turns you off... you'll probably hate it. It is not for everyone and that is clear from any distance, but I just so happen to be in the demographic that found something to enjoy here.
And it works, provided you can tune into this films wavelength. It's an intentionally weird film; extremely campy, often stupid, and very heavily targeted towards an LGBT friendly demographic (In spite of the heterosexual main couple.). If you enjoy some of the more out there films from that crowd including some of Mitchell's previous films, you might be able to find How to Talk to Girls at Parties as charming as I did.
It's not a great film by any stretch and it ends on an admittedly confusing note that I'm not sure I fully understood. It doesn't stick the landing when it comes to delivering on the sci-fi elements implied in the original short story. But one could argue that wasn't the point. It's clear this movie just wants to have fun.
And fun it is! The characters are charming, there's some fun dialogue & gags, and the playful sexuality of the film is something that appeals to me as a member of the LGBT community. But it's easy to understand why this film is going to appeal to a very small niche.
To quote Gaiman himself on the film: Watch the trailer. If that looks like a film you'll enjoy, go ahead and see it. If the style turns you off... you'll probably hate it. It is not for everyone and that is clear from any distance, but I just so happen to be in the demographic that found something to enjoy here.