Not nearly as clever as it thinks it is

Rating: 6/10 (10 December 1999)

This film could have been so much stronger, but it sacrifices whatever power it had as a social commentary in the last half hour with a "twist" ending that seems completely out of place... there were weaknesses early on (the dialogue and narration is a bit precious, and the entire film has a slick, music-video quality that contradicts its criticism of consumer culture), but I could forgive its early faults and focus instead on its good points-- the jabs at yuppiedom, media images of masculinity, etc. It wasn't perfect, but I was enjoying it... and then it just tanked. The last act is idiotic in itself-- but it doesn't stop there, it reduces the rest of the film to a worn-out joke. The climax literally took me out of the story. A missed opportunity.