The Evolution Of Clarke's Second Law

An organization course on ruthless commercialism disguised as a slacker funny: Thats the kindest method to describe Michael Lehmanns Flakes, a motion picture that shares the smug, hipper-than-thou sensibility of its sour lead character, Neal Downs (Aaron Stanford).

An ambitious rock musician who manages https://garretttmgy292.shutterfly.com/25 a New Orleans restaurant where the only expense of fare is breakfast cereal, Neal is a reflexively ironical deadbeat whose similarly sour girlfriend, Pussy Katz (Zooey Deschanel), shares his bohemian dream of traveling the country in an Airstream trailer, making music and art.

The walls of the dining establishment, called Flakes, are lined with cereal boxes, including uncommon terminated brand names. As customers slop up exotic mixes, the film suggests a deadpan satire of gourmet fetishism. One house specialized chocolate-flavored grains steeped in chocolate milk sounds particularly nauseating.

Owned by Willie (Christopher Lloyd), a decrepit hippie geezer with mad-scientist hair, Flakes hops along as a hangout for deadbeats up until a bright-eyed yuppie visitor, Stuart (Keir ODonnell), proposes turning it into a profitable franchise. When Willie and Neal reveal no interest, Stuart establishes a rival Flakes across the street, and the New Orleans cereal wars start.

Wanting to put Stuart out of company, Neal starts playing dirty techniques, the nastiest of which is the circulation of fliers to the homeless appealing 10 totally free bowls per customer at his rivals establishment. The prank sets off a near-riot that Stuart masterfully relies on his benefit.

Neals brand-new live-in relationship with Pussy begins to curdle when she turns traitor and goes to work for the competitors, hoping that the demise of the initial Flakes will leave Neal with time to finish his CD. If the name of his band, Cereal Killers, is completely chosen, its music is a joke.

When attorneys become associated with the dispute, the movies anti-establishment mindset vaporizes, as does the tiny bit of levity Flakes has produced.

FLAKES

Opens on Wednesday in Manhattan; also on Video as needed.

Directed by Michael Lehmann; written by Chris Poche and Karey Kirkpatrick; director of photography, Nancy Schreiber; edited by Nicholas C. Smith; music by Jason Derlatka and Jon Ehrlich; produced by Gary Winick and Jake Abraham; launched by IFC First Take. At the IFC Center, 323 Avenue of the Americas, at Third Street, Greenwich Village. Running time: 1 hour 24 minutes. This film is not ranked.

WITH: Aaron Stanford (Neal Downs), Zooey Deschanel (Miss Pussy Katz), Christopher Lloyd (Willie), Frank Wood (Bruce), Ryan Donowho (Skinny Larry), Izabella Miko (Strawberry) and Keir ODonnell (Stuart).