In this very special episode of Monkey’s Magic Merry Go Round, someone has stolen James’ memories!! Help him solve the case along with his pals Marty the Mailbox, King Roary the Lion, Foxy, Beaver, Octopus, Bird, and Weasel.
Michael Gilio plays children’s tv show host James, who at first glance appears like a typical, normal Mr. Roger’s stand-in. Unfortunately, he suffers from severe memory loss. As James attempts to remember, the children’s show he hosts slowly devolves into a surreal nightmare. Who is responsible for James’ lost memories? Will he ever be able to remember?
Michael Gilio is perfect as our lead. He nails both the children’s tv show host and the more unhinged parts of his personality very well. He’s equal parts hospitable and friendly, and freaky and unnerving. Franky Cesario as Monkey, on the other hand, is uncomfortable from the get go, made even more so with his unnatural human-like hands and high-pitched, wild voice. Is it James or Monkey who is the antagonist? You’ll have to watch to find out.
For the first act, this film excels at mimicking a children’s tv show. However, the longer it goes on the more it descends into something else entirely. James consistently breaks the 4th wall throughout, even well after the show has morphed into a dark, bloody acid-trip. There isn’t much story here, you could argue the children’s show aesthetics don’t last as long as they maybe should, and the film definitely loses its footing at times, but this is still a highly entertaining pitch-dark horror-comedy that should please anyone who grew up watching Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, Blues Clues, Sesame Street, or other shows like those.
4 STARS
No comments:
Post a Comment