The Giant Mechanical Man

Name: The Giant Mechanical Man
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: April 27, 2012
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 43
Cast: Chris Messina, Jenna Fischer, Malin Åkerman, Topher Grace

2012

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Mixed or average reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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6.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Tribeca Film | Release Date: April 27, 2012 | PG-13

Starring: Chris Messina, Jenna Fischer, Malin Åkerman, Topher Grace

Summary: An offbeat romantic comedy about a silver-painted street performer and the soft spoken zoo worker who falls for him.

Director: Lee Kirk

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 94 min

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Critic Reviews

R. Kurt Osenlund

Apr 23, 2012

It's a simple story of simple people intentionally told in simple terms, and the only issues with which it's concerned are those of pure personal connection. Read full review

John Anderson

Apr 26, 2012

Helmer-writer Lee Kirk's deliberately offbeat romance, a vehicle for wife Fischer, will undoubtedly win friends through its cockeyed-optimistic view of romance. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Apr 26, 2012

Grace, especially, gives a turn that could be a twerpy cousin to Tom Cruise's character in "Magnolia"; Fischer's dead-eyed responses to this Mensa-member/player who think he's book jacket-hot are priceless. Read full review

Ernest Hardy

Apr 24, 2012

Tim eventually evolves out of smugness, but unfortunately, the film merely trades it for sappiness. Fischer, meanwhile, imbues Janice with a wounded soulfulness that cuts right through the clichés. The less said about a hideously wigged Topher Grace as a smarmy self-help author, the better. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Apr 27, 2012

Pleasantly charming but instantly forgettable. Read full review

Nathan Rabin

Apr 25, 2012

Fischer at least has personal and romantic reasons to be involved with this film, but audiences are unencumbered by such obligations, and should heed the title's warning sign and opt out of Kirk, Fischer, and Messina's fruitless little circle of pain. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine Nick Schager

Apr 23, 2012

Fischer and Messina may make a cute pair, but amidst such contrivances, they're powerless to make this RomCom seem like anything more than a creaky retread of obvious indie clichés. Read full review

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Antianaria

Apr 29, 2012

I think anyone who doesn't mind a slower, emotionally awkward film would enjoy this, but if you are looking for a mainstream happy-romantic comedy, it definitely isn't for you.

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HansFlicks

Jul 5, 2013

The indie approach to love stories differs quite markedly from that of mainstream Hollywood. The Giant Mechanical Man fits comfortably into this tradition, its lack of grandeur adding to its charm, but at times it's a flick that feels a little too contrived to become something you'll want toThe indie approach to love stories differs quite markedly from that of mainstream Hollywood. The Giant Mechanical Man fits comfortably into this tradition, its lack of grandeur adding to its charm, but at times it's a flick that feels a little too contrived to become something you'll want to revisit.

The plot centres on a street performer (Chris Messina's Tim) and his struggles to fit in with the expectations of society at large, as well as to make ends meet. His lack of desire to take part in conventional culture defines the character and leads to a variety of problems in his relationships, largely due to drastically differing views on the world from those around him. His approach to life is fairly philosophical, believing that if he can brighten even one person's day on their way to work, it will make everything worthwhile. The character works well for the most part, but can come off as a stereotypical arty type in some of his rhetoric, which some may find a little grating.

The other side of the narrative takes Jenna Fischer's Janice as its focus. She has little idea what she wants from life and has difficulty holding down the succession of menial jobs that she takes on to pay the rent. She is the archetypal daydreamer, her head in the clouds more frequently than on solid ground. Her awkwardness in social situations does a lot to make the character likeable, the urge to will her to speak up for herself overwhelming.

The balance between comedy and drama in the film is judged well. There's adequate humour to raise a smile on more than one occasion and the drama plays very successfully for the most part. However, the scenes intended to be the most intense sometimes don't work quite as well as they should, leaving some of the more pivotal moments feeling a little flat. The movie's charm does a lot to make up for this, but there are points at which it is slightly overcooked and what atmosphere there was is crushed under the weight of borderline sickly sweetness.

The biggest problem here lies in the slightly ridiculous coincidences that lead to the two protagonists getting to know each other. The aim may perhaps have been to demonstrate how predestined to be together they really are, but there's an uncomfortably artificial feel that comes along with this and it detracts more than a little from the picture as a whole.… Expand

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