Office’ is a world-away from Gareth Keenan (of ‘The Office’). While Gareth's
portrayal is smart and suggestive, Dwight’s is obvious and overstated. Thankfully,
in Super, Wilson dials it down- only he dials it down too far (to the point of
producing a dull character). Miraculously, a turn of pace three-quarters of the way
into the film sees Wilson develop (really quite interesting) shades to his
character. The ending becomes something you could not have anticipated given the
film’s gait up to then: surprising, meditative and penetrating (not to mention
disturbing).
Frank (Rainn Wilson) is generally morose; draws hands that are too big; and looks
stupid when he cries (but cooks good eggs). His life changes dramatically when Jock
(Kevin Bacon) -a drug dealer- ensnares his willing wife Sarah (Liv Tyler). With a
decisive intervention from heaven, Frank becomes the Crimson Bolt, and is later
joined by a kid sidekick Boltie (Ellen Page) on a crime-stopping face-smashing
charge.
Super doesn’t feel like new territory (despite its unashamed attempts) until
somewhere towards the end of the film. The emergence of the subversive Boltie (a
brilliantly barbaric Page) raises proceedings. Frank (up to that point infused with
a nihilistic energy by Wilson) becomes good comic foil for his erratic sidekick.
Their highlight on screen together is a startlingly perversive sex scene.
And then, the dramatic show-down in the drug dealer’s manor. Undoubtedly, here,
opinions will divide (does laughter turn to that of the nervous variety?). My mind
is settled: the conclusion is brilliantly self-reflexive on the superhero canon.
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