Andrew
Tinashe Kusema
“LITTLE Monsters” is a good movie that failed to make an impact in the year it was released.
How so?
The movie hit the big screen the same year that Marvel’s Endgame reached its climax.
Also, it was during that same period that famed thespians Robert De Niro and Al Pacino reunited on the big screen after 12 years.
It was always going to be difficult for “Little Monsters” to make an impact under such circumstances.
After all, who would take time to notice this zombie comedy – a dying genre for that matter – when you have films like “Avengers- Endgame” and “The Irishman”?
That the two movies managed to get 11 Oscar nominations, collectively, and not a single gong will probably go down as one of the great cinematic travesties known to man.
Quick fun fact: Did you know that “The Irishman” is now in the top-five films with the most nominations but without a win?
“The Colour Purple” (1985) and “The Turning Point” (1977) hold the title.
However, this review is not about this Netflix classic.
We will definitely get to that in the weeks to come for I have a lot to say on the subject.
Back to the issue at hand.
The zombie comedy genre is one of those types of movies hard to understand.
The genre is, however, highly entertaining if you get the gist.
“Shaun of the Dead” remains the best release under this genre. It set the pace and tone.
“Little Monsters” is not in the same league, but the Abe Forsythe-directed movie comes very close.
After watching his music career and long-term relationship implode, Dave (Alexander England) retreats to his safe haven, like slackers do.
He goes on to stay with his sister Tess (Kat Stewart) and her son Felix (Diesel La Torraca).
During one drop-off assignment, Dave meets Felix’s teacher Miss Audrey Caroline and does not get smitten.
However, he volunteers to help chaperon one of her school trips at a country yard farm.
The farm is located near a United States (US) military facility where an accident occurs and lets loose a bunch of zombies.
The zombies head straight for the farm, infecting everyone in sight; all except Dave, Miss Caroline and her class and a creepy clown Teddy McGiggle, whom they trap in a gift shop located at the centre of the farm.
These survivors not only have to contend with surviving their would-be attackers, who have surrounded the shop, but also the US military bent on bombing the farm and “containing” the situation.
There are so many reasons why this movie shines.
Chief among them is the way they managed to create a balance between comedy and zombie genres.
Here, Dave and Miss Caroline have one duty, and that is to protect kids under their care from the marauding zombies.
The duty to neutralise the horror aspects of the movie with some light-hearted comedy falls on the inimitable Josh Gad.
Gad brings the whole aspect of the complexity of his character, Teddy McGiggle, with his mannerism, the creepy voice and demeanour, the laugh and physical comedy.
It is one of the things that make his comeuppance at the end all the more satisfying.
“Game of Thrones” could have learnt a lesson or two, especially when addressing deaths of some of their villains.
Gad is only rivalled, and to some extent eclipsed, by Lupita Nyong’o, who puts up a superb and show-stealing performance.
She does most of the heavy lifting, especially when it comes to the more dramatic work.
A few action scenes compliment her entire supporting cast.
England does little of note, but the Dave character is one of the most well-rounded and written characters in the movie.
The character goes through an entire journey of self-discovery; coming off at first as a self-centred slacker, but finding the true meaning of family at the end.
England does as much as one can expect from a well-written plot and character, ticking all the boxes well.
I did find the comedy bits a bit forced.
He was always in a lose situation judged against a gifted person like Gad.
Much like the Dave character, there is much to write home about the kids in the film who seem oblivious of the danger they face for the entirety of the movie.
The Felix character is the only kid that writer and director Abe Forsythe actually dedicates some time to fleshing out.
He, too, ticks every box.
Online Reporter