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Eagle Vs. Shark on DVD (2007)

Eagle Vs. Shark cover art
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Average rating: 66%
1316616172057
3.5
from 7,892 members
 
Starring: Joel Tobeck, Jemaine Clement, Loren Horsley, Brian Sergent, Rachel House
Director: Taika Waititi
Studio: OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 84 mins
Certificate: 15
User collections: THE classics, The Foot Collection
Genres: Comedy
Languages: English
Hearing-impaired: English
Released: 21/01/2008

Brief synopsis of Eagle Vs. Shark

Fans of cult hit NAPOLEON DYNAMITE will find much to like in this quirky New Zealand import. Director Taika Waititi's debut feature centres on the oddest of couples: Lily (Loren Horsley), an outcast at the fast food restaurant where she works, and Jarrod (Jermaine Clement, FLIGHT OF THE CONCORDS), a clerk at a video game store who is completely oblivious to his dork status. Lily's days revolve around Jarrod's daily burger-driven appearances at her job, but, alas, he only has eyes for her perky blonde coworker. But Lily wins his heart with her video game prowess, and the pair becomes a couple. However, Jarrod has more than romance on his mind, and he journeys back to his hometown to face a high school nemesis with loyal Lily in tow. Though Jarrod provides much of the film's humour, Lily provides its heart. Horsley's resume doesn't feature a large number of credits, but she is wonderful as Lily. She's awkward and honest, sweet and completely smitten with Jarrod. As Jarrod, Clement has perfected the deadpan delivery that made NAPOLEON DYNAMITE so much fun. As in its predecessor, EAGLE VS. SHARK features characters that aren't aware that they aren’t 'normal'. From Jarrod's mullets to his family's beloved track suits, they’re a study in strange, but they are genuine and real people. Like other odd romances such as HAROLD AND MAUDE, this love seems unlikely, but good acting and smart writing make it work.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 2 
	  stars out of 5 Ben Walters, Time Out

In 2003, Kiwi director Taika Waititi (sometimes credited as Taika Cohen) made Two Cars, One Night, a charming and... Read more on www.timeout.com

Empire

A comic delight destined for cult adoration

See all 2 Critics Reviews »

Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starsAnd now for something completely different...

PaulaWestwood from Ashton-Under-Lyne [Highly rated reviewer] , 26/08/2007

A perfectly mis-matched (or perfectly matched) pair of oddballs gravitate to each other in this perfectly written and directed film from Taika Cohen.

This is very much in the Napoleon Dynamite vein, but then again totally separate and in its own realm of quirkyness. You know as soon as this opens it is not going to be a straightforward hour and a half, enter the fantastically awkward main characters and we are off. Loren Horsley is just fantastic beyond words as Lily, as is Jemaine Clement as her love interest, the Looser Jarrod.

It is a real personal sort of film, and in away I could understand people having difficulty with it, if so I would say watch it again, as for me the whole thing is just brilliant. One of those very special (odd, but special) moments where you find something totally on another plane, definately one of the best films I have seen in 2007.

  17 out of 24 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 1 starsFor fans of Napoleon Dynamite?!

Kenno from Wallasey , 23/01/2008

'Fans of Napoleon Dynamite' will presumably have watched Napoleon Dynamite at least once before, and therefore won't enjoy sitting through this very poor copy. It could have been a decent enough film if only they'd made it more original, but I get the feeling the crew all watched bits of Napoleon Dynamite before filming each scene and acted/directed accordingly. The general storyline didn't lend itself to this style, being more OTT than Napoleon Dynamite - if they'd headed in this direction and went along with the story it could have been quite good, but they messed it up big time in my opinion. I'm a massive fan of Flight of the Conchords so had high expectations. I wish I could say that Jemaine Clement was totally blameless for this turning out so badly, but he did such a good job of 'being' Napoleon that he made it painful to watch - what was he thinking! Rent Flight of The Conchords instead - you won't regret it.

  13 out of 15 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsA romantic movis for those that hate romantic movies

Robbiedjude from Plymouth [Highly rated reviewer] , 01/02/2008

For crying out loud people enough with the Napolean Dynamite comparisons! I've seen both but Eagle Vs Shark stands or falls by it's own merits and fortunately it has plentyof those, funny, involving, imaginative and touching this is a romantic movie for people that hate the cookie-cutter template romantic movies that hollywood churns out with characters you really care about. Highly recommended.

  11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsVery sweet

Timmo from Brighton [Highly rated reviewer] , 23/01/2008

Enjoyed this New Zealand film, a gentle comedy with great performances from the 2 leads, you may know Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords - this has some similarities in that he plays a child-like adult, wrestling with what the 'grown-up' world throws at him. He's not particularly loveable in this, but Lily (Loren Horsley) is more sympathetic.

A low-key sort of tale, but nicely done.

4 stars (3 1/2 from my wife)

  7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 4 starsVery sweet

Timmo from Brighton [Highly rated reviewer] , 23/01/2008

Enjoyed this New Zealand film, a gentle comedy with great performances from the 2 leads, you may know Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords - this has some similarities in that he plays a child-like adult, wrestling with what the 'grown-up' world throws at him. He's not particularly loveable in this, but Lily (Loren Horsley) is more sympathetic.

A low-key sort of tale, but nicely done.

4 stars (3 1/2 from my wife)

  7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 2 starspoor distant relation of napoleon

Julesy from Mansfield [Highly rated reviewer] , 14/04/2008

instantly you will feel that you are hanging with napoleon dynamites new zealand cousins but after about half the film you will discover that the tone of this film considerably darker and the lead charactor jarrod is a bit of an unpleasent c#*t and the guy does not deserve any of his nice family ,daughter or girlfriend shame he didnt jump off the cliff himself but beating up a wheelchair bound guy with nunchucs is comedy gold.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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