Awkward Spoiler

Susie and I watched Shopgirl the other night. If you either a.) still want to watch it, or b.) have seen it and don't want me to ruin the warm and fuzzy experience of it for you, please skip this blog entry (Susie).

It was a pretty decent movie. If you like movies that are quirky for the sake of being quirky, you will probably like Shopgirl.

The two main problems I have with it are:

1. None of the characters in the movie have any redeeming qualities. The only reason you develop any emotional connection with them is that they are endearingly awkward conversationalists. Oh, and the fact that Claire Danes owns a cat.

2. The movie contains possibly the most painfully awkward use of voice over I have ever experienced. It literally made me squirm. And cringe. And groan (sorry, Susie). At the very end of the movie you realize why they threw it in there, (Yeah, at first the VO makes it seem like he and she were destined for each other, and then the VO at the end provides a "subtle" ironic twist on that built-up assumption.) but someone involved with the project clearly had a sick thing for Amelie.

Oh, and a note to all you budding movie directors out there: slow motion should never, ever be used for awkward dinner conversation montages.

This post has been brought to you by the word "Awkward."