Vengeance Review by TheJonathanSim: B.J. Novak's Debut Film is Smart Yet Sometimes Bland
Inglourious Basterds. After all his success, he is ready to make his mark in many ways with his feature directorial debut. Novak writes, directs, and stars in. In this dark comedy thriller, he portrays Ben Manalowitz, a journalist and podcaster traveling from New York City to Texas to investigate the death of a girl he hooked up with. This is an original, fascinating concept with some thought-provoking messages wrapped in a film that ultimately doesn’t have the staying power it could have.
If you have seen Novak’s work on television, you know his style: a biting, wry sense of humor mixed with a heart at the center of it all. The opening sequence features much of that, with Ben having a humorous conversation with a friend on a Brooklyn rooftop. As he tries to get his podcast off the ground, we get a look at his hookup lifestyle through a few fun moments before he gets a call in the night.
Much of the humor in this movie arises from the cultural differences between the characters. Despite its American setting, a New York journalist finds himself in a Southern culture entirely different from his own. Rather than humiliating the South for all its stereotypes, Novak writes a comedically cringe-worthy scenario where Ben finds himself in the middle of gun lovers, passionate sports fans, and Whataburger.
The movie also has a fun group of supporting characters. Ben is introduced to the Shaw family, who play off Ben in hilarious ways. The relationship between Ben and Ty’s younger brother leads to some very heartfelt moments. Novak knew how to build the relationship between Ben and the family without slipping into cliché sentimental territory. The result works well despite
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