Citizen Duane

There are many ways that a comedy can be constructed. One of the more successful ways is to exaggerate real or possible situations past what is normal for a comic result. One of the reasons this methodology typically works is it readily provides the audience with s foundation to identify with and form an empathetic bond with the protagonist. Most comedy requires this degree of emotional association to help the audience put themselves into the situation at hand. It has also been said that comedy is based on perspective. If you see a man trip and fall you might laugh unless you are close enough to see his pain. In the recent independent comedy ‘Citizen Duane’ the normal situation is one that is extremely familiar. Actually two such set of circumstances are at play here; a teenage boy growing up and a local election. The perspective comes in when you realize that the family is hopelessly and continually on the receiving end of bad luck. We can laugh from the vantage point of our seat but anyone was part of a lamentable family like this the story could just as easily be told as a tragedy. With that stated it should be noted that overall this film provided a solid afternoon of enjoyment with a well crafted execution of an odd premise. This exemplifies the spirit of the independent film, especially the Indy comedy. It finds humor in the unusual juxtaposition of characters and circumstances creating a funny film that make an honest attempt to satisfy the audience. As a Canadian movie the humor is somewhat between the dry silliness of British comedy and the more over the top variance that is prevalent here in the States. It is not that you will roll on the floor with hysterical fits of laughter, much of the humor is more understated than that but it is a movie that will not fail to entertain and amuse. The distribution of this film was secured by MTI Home Video. I have been an avid fan of their releases for years. I can always be certain when I receive something from them that it will be unusual and a good addition to my independent film collection.

The original premise and story was provided by Robert DeLeskie migrated to a screenplay by Jonathan Sobol. Both have a short list of works prior to this but it appears that this is the movie that will help establish them at least in the Indy film community. The idea behind the film is simple and at least in part founded on some similar real events. Duane Balfour (Douglas Smith) is considered as his high school’s looser. Fact is he come from a family with the regrettable reputation of Quixotic causes; the laughing stock of the little community. The director, Michael Mabbott, is also a new comer to film making but he has a very nice way to succinctly visualize young Balfour’s lot in life. When his younger brother Maurie (Devon Bostick) is beaten up by the school bully, Chad Milton (Nicholas Carella), Duane leads his brother in a bit of retaliation in the parking lot. Since Chad is about four times larger than the combined Balfour boys he easily beats him up. While on the ground, bleeding, Duane notices an ant carrying a pretzel many times his size. Chad steps on the insect but it survives, injured it picks up a piece of the pretzel and continues back to its nest. This one little scene provides more insight into Duane than would be possible with pages of dry exposition; Belfour’s are survivors than keep going even when it looks impossible. The insect also will be instrumental in putting the climatic circumstances into play so this motif is actually quite nicely played and immediately sets this comedy far above the typical high school humor.

Throughout his life Duane has allow his hatred of Chad to fester into an all consuming obsession. Almost everything Duane tries to achieve he is bested by Chad. Even the one positive thing in Duane’s life, his relationship with his girlfriend Molly Buckley (Jane McGregor) is threatened since she is quickly growing extremely upset about his Chad fixation. She breaks up, again with him after his last fight with Chad following losing a student election to the pompous bully. When told by his mother (Alberta Watson) and guidance teacher, Miss Houston (Vivica A. Fox) to break the cycle of violence he goes off again on a destructive tangent by building a literal cycle of violence; an old bike with spikes saw blades and garden implements attached to use against Chad’s SUV. Chad is not the only notable Milton in the small town of Ridgeway. His family practically owns it. The major businesses are Milton owned and for as long as most people can remember Chad’s mother Kelly (Rosemary Dunsmore) has been major. There has been a family feud between the Balfours and Miltons for ages made worse when the major approved the shooting oh Duane’s father over an incident where he was trying to warn the people the ridge under the town was in danger of crumbling which will destroy the town. Duane goes full on into ‘rebel without a clue’ mode by announcing he is going to challenge the Mayor in the upcoming election. Helping him is the rather strange Uncle Bingo (Donal Logue) who lives with his mother and brother. Alone side this are some surrealistic moments such as when a local news personality ambushes Mom with a video crew pressing on their one night stand. The film stumbles a few times but remains pretty much on track. It comes off as a weird blend of ‘Napoleon Dynamite’, ‘Ferris Bueller’ and ‘Malcolm in the Middle’. The flick is silly but it does its job as a comedy.

Posted 04/13/2010