DAVE MADE A MAZE review
(Reviewed by Melody Werner)
Dave Made a Maze is a 2017 independent film directed by Bill Watterson (no, not that one). Starring Meera Rohit Kumbhani, Nick Thune, and Adam Busch, it was released at Sundance and appears to have been met with a fairly mixed critical reception going off a glance at Metacritic. Despite having all of the hallmarks of a horror film, it isn't whatsoever (what's the theme with all these movies I'm watching lately being listed as horror on IMDb despite not being horror?). If this is a horror, so is Peter Jackson's King Kong, smh. Anyway, it's about Dave--a going nowhere fast creatively minded guy who builds a cardboard maze in his and his girlfriend's apartment, but becomes trapped in it when it turns out that the labyrinth has taken a life of its own. With such a goofy premise, you can immediately suss out what this actually is: a comedy. And a comedy which riffs on the tropes of what I like to call "everyone dies" stories in spectacular fashion, no less.
DMaM is a superbly polished and an endlessly inventive stunner, which would have no problem standing toe to toe with any Hollywood release were it to have been released by a major studio and given a wide release. Assuming, of course, that such a major studio would ever take a bet on this movie which uses all practical effects and puppetry these days, which is unbelievable--I know. What I must assume was a tiny budget (it isn't public knowledge, fair cop) does little to change the fact that these are incredible sets and the artistry on display is absolutely breathtaking; no hyperbole. This film could've had an easy Get Out of Jail Free card when it comes to its visual polish in its cardboard world setting, but it instead goes the harder route--and sticks the landing. The music is pretty good and elevates certain scenes, but isn't the kind you're still humming afterwards or keep stuck in your head for ages. Despite a mostly unrecognizable cast, they all fit their roles great, with special credit especially going to Rohit Kumbhani who really is the glue that holds the thing together. In the hands of a lesser actress, they would've sunk the film because it's so reliant on her performance. Someone hire this woman for something big. Thanks.
Narratively, DMaM follows the structures of your typical "malevolent place" and "everyone dies" tales, while gleefully skewering some of their trappings and leaning into others to create something fresh. It's subversive, but not completely, which is a good or bad thing depending on how you feel about subversion. Personally, I have always appreciated well done subversion but I don't knock anything which doesn't go whole hog, if it works. And for the most part, DMaM does work. Its cast of characters is suitably affable, thanks to them all having great actors and at least a good gag each. There are a few details which seem to go ignored, which I could see being a disappointment on rewatches.
Being a comedy, you need good humor. Pretty straightforward, innit? And this is where DMaM gets caveats. First of all, humor is a fickle mistress and thus no two people are going to laugh the same amount at the same things. I mean, the same thing goes for other genres, but not to nearly this extent. Me? I thought DMaM was a more endearing sort of funny than a laugh out loud, guffawing hysteria. And while the cast of actors is on the whole, very humorous and good at running the gamut, sometimes the comedic timing iiiiis just a hair off. Also puzzling is a cross narrative which has zero impact on the story and only serves to get in the way of the pacing, with almost literally 5 second interjections which don't even have the time to tell good jokes given the film's comedic stylings. Thankfully, the dialogue is pretty excellent and it does make time for slower moments of character.
Dave Made a Maze is at once both a thoroughly unique and inventive self-contained treat for those who are maybe a little tired of the sameness we see in many modern big budget films... and also a very unpretentious, entertaining flick that you'll probably enjoy even if you're not a cynical cinephile. It's a sweet, charming little watch, and does that job brilliantly. Dave Made a Maze gets a 9/10.
Awesome
Summary:
Even setting aside the impressive visuals (since you shouldn't, because they're phenomenal), this is a ball of fun you might dig a ton.
Dave Made a Maze is a 2017 independent film directed by Bill Watterson (no, not that one). Starring Meera Rohit Kumbhani, Nick Thune, and Adam Busch, it was released at Sundance and appears to have been met with a fairly mixed critical reception going off a glance at Metacritic. Despite having all of the hallmarks of a horror film, it isn't whatsoever (what's the theme with all these movies I'm watching lately being listed as horror on IMDb despite not being horror?). If this is a horror, so is Peter Jackson's King Kong, smh. Anyway, it's about Dave--a going nowhere fast creatively minded guy who builds a cardboard maze in his and his girlfriend's apartment, but becomes trapped in it when it turns out that the labyrinth has taken a life of its own. With such a goofy premise, you can immediately suss out what this actually is: a comedy. And a comedy which riffs on the tropes of what I like to call "everyone dies" stories in spectacular fashion, no less.
DMaM is a superbly polished and an endlessly inventive stunner, which would have no problem standing toe to toe with any Hollywood release were it to have been released by a major studio and given a wide release. Assuming, of course, that such a major studio would ever take a bet on this movie which uses all practical effects and puppetry these days, which is unbelievable--I know. What I must assume was a tiny budget (it isn't public knowledge, fair cop) does little to change the fact that these are incredible sets and the artistry on display is absolutely breathtaking; no hyperbole. This film could've had an easy Get Out of Jail Free card when it comes to its visual polish in its cardboard world setting, but it instead goes the harder route--and sticks the landing. The music is pretty good and elevates certain scenes, but isn't the kind you're still humming afterwards or keep stuck in your head for ages. Despite a mostly unrecognizable cast, they all fit their roles great, with special credit especially going to Rohit Kumbhani who really is the glue that holds the thing together. In the hands of a lesser actress, they would've sunk the film because it's so reliant on her performance. Someone hire this woman for something big. Thanks.
Narratively, DMaM follows the structures of your typical "malevolent place" and "everyone dies" tales, while gleefully skewering some of their trappings and leaning into others to create something fresh. It's subversive, but not completely, which is a good or bad thing depending on how you feel about subversion. Personally, I have always appreciated well done subversion but I don't knock anything which doesn't go whole hog, if it works. And for the most part, DMaM does work. Its cast of characters is suitably affable, thanks to them all having great actors and at least a good gag each. There are a few details which seem to go ignored, which I could see being a disappointment on rewatches.
Being a comedy, you need good humor. Pretty straightforward, innit? And this is where DMaM gets caveats. First of all, humor is a fickle mistress and thus no two people are going to laugh the same amount at the same things. I mean, the same thing goes for other genres, but not to nearly this extent. Me? I thought DMaM was a more endearing sort of funny than a laugh out loud, guffawing hysteria. And while the cast of actors is on the whole, very humorous and good at running the gamut, sometimes the comedic timing iiiiis just a hair off. Also puzzling is a cross narrative which has zero impact on the story and only serves to get in the way of the pacing, with almost literally 5 second interjections which don't even have the time to tell good jokes given the film's comedic stylings. Thankfully, the dialogue is pretty excellent and it does make time for slower moments of character.
Dave Made a Maze is at once both a thoroughly unique and inventive self-contained treat for those who are maybe a little tired of the sameness we see in many modern big budget films... and also a very unpretentious, entertaining flick that you'll probably enjoy even if you're not a cynical cinephile. It's a sweet, charming little watch, and does that job brilliantly. Dave Made a Maze gets a 9/10.
Awesome
Summary:
Even setting aside the impressive visuals (since you shouldn't, because they're phenomenal), this is a ball of fun you might dig a ton.
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