The Happy Poet

The Happy Poet
Run Time: 85min
Florida Film Fest screenings:
April 13 3:45pm Enzian Theater and
9:00pm Garden Theater (director at both screenings)
Director: Paul Gordon   Dropps:7.5/10

Life seems hard for everyone in this current economic climate.  If you are okay with your house payments at the moment you may have a huge credit card debt.  So many students are leaving college with a degree but no job offers in their field, student loans to pay off and moving back in with their parents. Even with adversity all around you would you be brave enough to strike it out on your own?

In the film The Happy Poet the audience follows a character named Bill who isn’t the luckiest guy.  On a whim he decides to take out a loan to start a business selling vegetarian food, even though he is already in debt.  Even though his idea is scoffed at he gets a small loan and sets out to accomplish his dream, but is his city ready for his business? Is Bill ready for all things that will come his way because of this business?
The film is written, directed, produced, edited and stars Paul Gordon.  Gordon creates a simple story of an everyman trying to pursue something that they want rather than doing what society expects of them.  The same can be said of Gordon’s characterization of the lead Bill.  Gordon makes Bill a monotone character that barely raises his voice or shows change in emotion but that is what makes it kind of funny.  Bill is portrayed as if he is in his own little bubble where everything is on a level playing field of just a little below contentment.

To help balance the playing field of emotions Bill has a sidekick in Jonny Mars who plays Donnie.  Where Bill seems to try and be a play by the rules and not really make ways type of guy Donnie is some one that thinks that doing and saying anything he wants can’t hurt him in anyway.  Mars is great in this roll as Bill’s foil, he pushes Bill to go outside of his box and try things.  Many times he helps bring the comedy to the screen with how much of a contrast he is to Gordon’s character.  Christ Doubek as the somewhat clueless Curtis is hilarious.

If you are looking for a small gem at the Florida Film Festival you should catch The Happy Poet.  There are four emotions you will feel during this film; happiness, sadness, embarrassment and hunger.  Above all there should be a little smile on your face at the end of the film. Don’t forget the filmmaker will also be at the next two showings.
-Ashlynn Williams