Eagle vs Shark

As stylistically and thematically quirky as one might’ve anticipated, Eagle vs Shark casts Loren Horsley as Lily – a painfully withdrawn young woman who embarks upon a tentative relationship with an almost egregiously offbeat figure named Jarrod (Jermaine Clement). There’s little doubt that Eagle vs Shark, despite the inclusion of several undeniably hilarious comedic bits, generally comes off as a low-key and almost downbeat drama, as filmmaker Taika Cohen places the emphasis on Lily’s often cringeworthy efforts at ingratiating herself with Clement’s Jarrod. Horsley’s incredibly earnest performance ensures that the viewer can’t help but sympathize with Lily’s plight, yet there admittedly does reach a point at which her pursuit of Jarrod becomes something of a head-scratcher. A self-obsessed jerk, Jarrod hardly seems in the same league as Lily and there’s just no shaking the feeling that she could do a whole lot better – although, to be fair, the inevitable (and anticipated) fake break-up does spur the character into making positive changes within her own life (ie she slowly-but-surely starts to come out of her shell). And as effective as Cohen’s expectedly off-kilter directorial choices are – the filmmaker even includes a few animated interludes! – Eagle vs Shark‘s strongest attribute is undoubtedly Horsley’s indelible turn as the exceedingly endearing central character (which ultimately ensures that it’s not terribly difficult to envision Lily successfully placed within the context of a straight-forward, comparatively conventional piece of work).

*** out of ****