Coming up on Film Four as one of the late night movies this week is a low budget indie movie by the creators of American Pie. ‘Chuck and Buck’ is a rather disturbing and strangely sensitive film about a twenty something year old guy who has the mental age of an eleven year old.
After his mother’s death Buck remembers his childhood friend Chuck and sets off to find him in LA where he is working as a music executive. Met with the harsh reality that his friend no longer wants him around, a confused and deranged Buck begins to stalk Chuck and trys every trick in the book to get their ‘friendship’ back, becoming a presence in Chuck’s life that just won’t go away.
This is not a film for those of a sensitive nature; it’s perfect for film critics who will be able to see through the darker sides of the story and for anyone who loves movies that dare to be different. The film delves briefly into homosexuality and unrequited love as well as mental and psychical abuse.
Strange as it may seem though it does have a certain charm about it that is maybe down to Buck’s rather naïve and immature nature, and although he is clearly disturbed, we begin to learn why, and the extent of these two childhood pals odd friendship.
The acting in this movie is brilliant, Mike White plays the role of Buck with such an innocent yet disturbing edge that you cannot help but keep watching to find out what happens next and how things work out for these two clearly emotionally disturbed young men.
Chuck and Buck can be seen on Sunday 26th November on Film Four, and you can probably catch a repeat some time on Film4’s crazy repeat schedule.
Full cast list for Chuck and Buck: Adam Storms Parker, Annette Murphy, Barry G. Thomas, Beth Colt, Caleb Wilson, Chris Weitz, Chuy Chᶥz, Damon Huss, Dana Baratta, Doug Keiffer, Erin Espinoza, Ezra Pugh, Gino Buccola, Giovanni Gieco, Glory Simon, Jaime Hook, James Mooney, Jesse Lee Thomas, Jonathan Brown, Josephina J. Rocha, Jules Bruff, Linda Lichter, Lupe Ontiveros, Marc Hyman, Mary Wigmore, Maya Rudolph, Megan McCaw, Meredith Tucker, Mike White, Miranda Thompson, Nathaniel Olderman, Pamela Gordon, Paul Gellman, Paul Sand, Paul Weitz, Ron Yerxa, Ruthie Bram, T.J. Wilkins, Tony Maxwell, Vince Duffy, Yehuda Maayan, Zak Penn.