Eagle Vs. Shark

Posted by Ty Nelson (roner34@sbcglobal.net) on July 9, 2007

It is a typical movie set-up. “Weird” boy meets “quirky” girl, they fall in love and live happily ever after. Despite it’s conventional premise, Eagle Vs. Shark is anything but a typical movie.

Set in New Zealand, we are introduced to Lily, (Loren Horsley) a sweet but homely girl who works at a “Meaty Boy” restaurant. It’s clear from the start that she has a difficult time interacting with people. She is quiet, fidgety, and not popular with her co-workers. When her store has to let someone go Lily’s name is pulled out of the hat. Only later does she discover her name was the only one in the hat. The only person she seems to connect with at all is her brother Damien (Joel Tobeck) since their parents died years before and the two take care of each other.

On one of Lily’s last days at work Jarrod (Jemain Clement) gives her an invitation to his party. This excites Lily, as she has been eying him for a while, until he asks that she give it to a co-worker, one who ends up refusing it. Donning a shark costume–the party’s theme is dress as your favorite animal–Lily goes to the party instead. Once there she advances to the finals of a Mortal Kombat-style video game tournament. Jarrod obliviously trounces Lily while she stares at him.

As Lily and Jarrod’s relationship advances, Lily finds out that Jarrod is training for a mission. He wants to go back to his hometown to exact revenge on a high school bully, who he hasn’t seen in twenty years. Not being able to afford the trip Lily offers help in the form of her brother. Damien drives the pair and Lily spends a week getting to know Jarrod and his family.

Almost any review of Eagle Vs. Shark you will read is going to compare the movie to Napoleon Dynamite. And rightly so. really feels as though the characters are just adult versions of the ones we met in the previous film. That’s not to say that this movie is a direct ripoff, but it is clearly inspired by Napoleon Dynamite. For example, while taking a break from nun chuck training for the big fight, Jarrod tries to taunt his unknowing opponent with prank phone calls:

Man on phone: D’you want to leave a message?
Jarrod: Tell him that justice is waiting for him.
Man on phone: OK Justin. Thank you. Bye bye.
[hangs up]
Jarrod: No, justice. Justice.

It’s the odd unexpected moments like this that are the funniest. The big showdown with the bully is like no other fight captured on film. Definitely the comedic highlight of the movie.

The biggest problem in the film is Jarrod. To put it frankly, he’s an asshole. He is very selfish. While the pair are cleaning out a closet, Lily finds a candle Jarrod made and after seeing how much she likes it he takes it from her. He also lies about his parents being dead and the fact that he has a daughter. When Jarrod dumps Lily because he thinks he has a chance with another girl I was hoping she would wise up and move on. There is a reason for his behavior, but I never felt that the reason really excused any of it. Outside of loneliness, it’s hard to find anything that would make Lily want to be with him.

Eagle Vs. Shark is one of the strangest, most original films in a long time. The characters all are very unique. These aren’t the kind of people you would soon forget after meeting them. There is some cut-away animation that has its own style, but which ultimately prove to be nothing more than a bit distracting.

Basically, this movie is so different that I really wanted to like it, but the romance between Lily and Jarrod feels forced and that derails the rest of the movie. For something so different from all the romantic comedies that Hollywood puts out, this Kiwi import ends up feeling just like everything else.

If you liked Napoleon Dynamite, Saturday Night Live movies, or The Fisher King, you might like Eagle Vs. Shark.

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