Many films that portray art and artists tend to be biographical or linked to the drama genre. When thinking about it, my mind quickly jumps to Black Swan, Frida, Whiplash, Pollock, and many others. This is why it was hard to imagine how a different tone would fit an artist-inspired film. To my surprise, a comedic style does work pretty well, I’m talking about PAINT, a new film recently released and directed by Brit McAdams. The director has some credits for producing short movies and series. However, it seems this is their first fiction feature for him.
For a debut, I think PAINT shows a promising future for McAdams. This is my personal opinion, and I was surprised to see how many critics have reviewed the film negatively and how low its qualification is on Rotten Tomatoes. PAINT is not a perfect film, but it kept me entertained. It is enjoyable visually and has good performances. Best of anything, it made me left happy and with a feeling of tenderness. I must say though that the film appeals to my taste. Therefore I will do my best to expand on specific aspects beyond what I like.
PAINT follows Carl Nargle (Owen Wilson), a Vermont public television star who teaches how to paint landscapes daily in his show. He is a character that reminds me in many aspects of Bob Ross – precisely because of his perm and style – and is inspired by him. However, Carl has his own story. The film follows his journey from a local star to a forgotten artist and how this impacts him emotionally. In a way, I think the movie would fit the coming-of-age themes because Carl goes through personal growth and maturation. Despite being a middle-aged man, he is emotionally young, and his ego does not help. Losing the attention of others helped him understand himself better and grow, ultimately finding happiness in simple things and achieving one of his lifelong goals: being featured in the local art museum.
Something appears obvious when summarizing the film in these simple phrases: the script is a little rocky and misleads the spectator. The characters’ journey is simple; however, it is easy to get lost and misunderstand the point because of many of the side stories and characters attached. Mainly it is made that way because of the genre or the intention of making a comedy. Many comedic situations with side characters are added that are fun but don’t add much to the story. This makes you wonder at the beginning where the story is going and can be discouraging for less patient spectators who focus mainly on storytelling.
I am very compelled by visuals when watching a film and often get distracted. That prevents me from getting bored, and I can be patient and follow the story without feeling uneasy. The film is visually stunning and unique. The cinematography and production design deliver a vintage vibe inserted in modern times, creating a quirkiness that fits Carl Nargle very well. How the landscapes are shot similarly to his paintings (also very Bob-Ross) is a good detail that inserts you into a unique world. Also, there are certain shots that remind me of Wes Anderson’s early work as well. Of course, the presence of Owen Wilson helps with that comparison.
Wilson’s performance is excellent and shows how a good actor can be funny in a personal way. He is subtle, and the comedy is rooted in the construction of the character he makes. Wilson delivers a sensitive performance concerned with the character’s inner world and journey. That makes Nargle believable and compelling, despite his narcissism and misogynist behavior. This aspect of him is addressed in the film and put in conflict. However, I feel the tone in which his relationship with women is handled is wrong. It feels odd concerning the overall tone of the film. I think PAINT is unsuccessful every time it goes to familiar places to make unnecessary funny situations. The film would be much better if kept faithful to Nargle’s journey and less concerned with being fun to watch and fitting a specific genre. The kind of humor that holds the film better is when it goes to a believable absurdity that works Carl well. For example, when he has an idea for a program where spectators bid him to paint them, that specific part of the arc is intelligent, fun to watch, and fits the character’s personality well. I would have liked to see much more of that.
Another aspect of the film I feel is unnecessary but contributes to the overall joke is the reference to Bob Ross. There are many similitudes between Nargle and Ross. That is an excellent commercial strategy and also works well as a visual one. However, story-wise, I’m not sure it is needed. I’m unsure how the reference will play to non-US audiences since many people from abroad are unfamiliar with Ross.
Score: 3.5/5
PAINT is a film for a particular audience, and I’m sure it will find it. I’m one of them and truly enjoyed watching. I laughed hard and was surprised frame by frame by the impeccable production design and camerawork. Also, the complete cast is excellent and consistent with the tone (besides, the film is not). All in all, the most valuable thing to me about the experience of seeing a movie is how you feel after, sometimes I think nothing, and sometimes I feel bored, but PAINT made me feel uplifted and surprised. That counts a lot in this re-make after re-make times. We need more new stories.
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