Jason, Freddie, Mike Myers, Chuckie,...Frank the bunny?

Rating: 9/10 (31 March 2002)

"Donnie Darko" is one of the best-written, original, interesting films to come along in a while. Not to take anything away from it but it reminds me of a really, really great, long episode of "X-Files." I kept waiting for Mulder and Scully to show up after the jet engine crashes down from the sky. Thankfully, Chris Carter's brain didn't dream up this idea. Writer/director Richard Kelly dreams it up first.
Donnie Darko is the real name Jake Gyllenhaal's character. In a great exchange between he and his girlfriend, Gretchen (Jena Malone), she says 'What kind of a name is that? It sounds like a super hero or something.' Donnie's reply: 'How do you know I'm not?' The irony, for what it's worth, is that 'Gretchen Ross' is not her real name. This film is filled with great exchanges, great scenes, great ideas. Example (for those who've seen it): Ms. Pomeroy (Drew Barrymore) making a girl move so Gretchen can find a seat "next to the guy she thinks is cutest," who is of course, Donnie. It's just one moment in which the world of the film feels like it's just someone's fantasy and not really happening.
The film's marketers (Newmarket?) wisely use Frank the giant bunny rabbit prominently in the "Donnie Darko" campaign. A giant, scary-looking bunny rabbit is as good a reason to check out a film as any, I suppose.