interesting idea limited by typical movie conventions

Rating: 6/10 (17 September 2010)

I pretty much agree with the review that is currently voted as the best one. The movie toys with the familiar concept of taking revenge...the audience both wants to see the Clyde succeed, but feels uneasy at the same time, knowing that revenge has never served anyone. Then, when it becomes apparent, that this may go too far, that should be enough to sustain interest and a love/hate relationship with Clyde. After all, the movie doesn't play too serious and allows for humor, which should be displaced in this kind of situation, quite clearly marking it as entertainment as opposed to a thoughtful piece of work. By that point you probably no longer care and half-root for him to succeed, just to see how over-the-top this can still get. He already seems to put the Joker to shame...causing mayhem *while* being in prison. But the last act ruins all this excitement and the all-too-popular by-the-numbers final resolution act with an unimaginative twist runs the whole thing into the (familiar) ground. Still, the first part is nicely done, creating hope for something unusual and the rest plays out better in your own head, I guess.