Congorama

Though it gets off to a fairly engaging start, Congorama is ultimately undone by its meandering structure and distinctly unfocused vibe. It’s a shame, really, as the film features an extremely compelling performance from Olivier Gourmet, who effortlessly steps into the shoes of a likeable schlub and often comes off as a French-Canadian Paul Giamatti. Gourmet stars as Michel, a fledgling inventor who travels to Montreal after learning that he was actually adopted. There, he encounters a fellow inventor and the two soon find themselves inextricably drawn together. Director Philippe Falardeau’s reluctance to employ a linear storyline ensures that Congorama never quite adds up to a completely satisfying endeavor, although there are a number of extremely intriguing and downright compelling elements within the filmmaker’s screenplay. The whole thing just keeps getting weirder and weirder, to the extent that the various events in the film start to feel awfully random – though it does become clear that Falardeau is working towards a cathartic conclusion (the film’s payoff is almost but not entirely worth the buildup). Congorama is ultimately undone by its frustratingly uneven structure, and while there’s no overlooking the effectiveness of Gourmet’s performance, the movie simply can’t sustain the viewers interest throughout its 105 minute running time.

** out of ****