Rubber

6.3/10 Dropps.

Genre: Drama, Horror, Comedy
Rated: R
Running Time: 1 hr. 25 min.
In Theaters: Apr 1, 2011 Limited
Directed By: Quentin Dupieux
Written By: Quentin Dupieux

Some movies are watched with preconceived notions about plot, story, or in the least, what to expect; others simply are not. Rarely in today’s film market do movies premier that truly, as it is quite literally prefaced in the film, have no reason. “Why is E.T. brown? No reason… In ‘The Chainsaw Massacre’ why don’t we ever see the characters go to the bathroom? No reason.” With these ideas fresh in our minds, we are left with tire that comes to life with the power to obliterate all in its path. Why, you may ask? No reason.

Rubber tells the odd tale of Robert, a tire discarded in the middle of the desert that springs to life one sunny afternoon. As he get’s his bearings roaming the desert, he discovers his love for destruction and a psychokinetic power that has the power to kill all in his path. As he approaches town, a strange infatuation with a passing stranger triggers oddly human responses. What ensues is a chaotic, oddball, feature that truly is an homage to the “No reason,” theme so popular in Hollywood.

The first thing that needs to be accepted when deciding to watch Rubber is that you are going to be watching a movie that truly will leave you nothing but confused. The second thing that should be known is that you are going to have fun doing it. Rubber is not deep or intellectual, but violent and darkly funny, and in this case, it works fairly well.

Written and directed by Quentin Dupieux, Rubber comes off the way only a writer director could have pulled off. This twisted, and one of a kind vision, could have easily not been as enjoyable in anyone else’s hands. Dupieux creates characters that are liked for what they are, non-essential centerpieces to drive any semblance of a storyline forward.

Another aspect of the “what is going on” mentality that comes with Rubber is the audience watching from the middle of the desert. These characters are essentially no name characters, except for one; Wings Hauser plays an audience member in a wheelchair that becomes part of the action. He’s humorous in his role, and gives a solid performance. Stephen Spinella and Roxane Mesquida portray the other two non-tire main character. Spinella plays the second lead as Lt. Chad and is fun and light-hearted with his character, something to be expected with a movie like this.

All and all, Rubber is a one of a kind comedy-thriller that really leaves an impression on the viewer for no apparent reason. Perhaps the fact that a premise as simple “no reason,” could very easily be overdone, or come off as over-the-top is at play, the simple fact is that neither of those things occur and it’s a pleasant surprise. The film isn’t perfect, but it is fun, something light and absurd to watch for a change of pace.

-Hunter Freiburg