FilmSnobReviews

Title: Paint
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Brit McAdams
Starring: Owen Wilson, Ciara Renee, Michaela Watkins
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins

What It Is: In terms of Burlington, Vermont public access the king starts and stops with painter Carl Nargle (Wilson). From his signature perm, to the seventies van everything Carl does is seen in a different light. To the point where he’s seen as a Vermont state treasure. Now a new challenge to the art throne has ascended and this new artist Ambrosia (Renee) has a very different technique from the landscape heavy Carl. Speaking of landscapes…Carls landscape is about to change completely.

What We Think: This thinly-veiled parody of the Bob Ross archetype doesn’t quite hit at the clip it should to be considered a “good” comedy. Owen Wilson is doing his very best to contain the somewhat plain Jane script. I was sort of bored throughout most of the film. That’s a death knell for a comedy. If not for the savoiresque performance of its lead this painting would’ve been about as dull as ditchwater. There’s not a ton here to really enjoy but quite frankly getting to the end of the film felt like it wasn’t really worth it.

Our Grade: C+, Whatever was going on in this film just didn’t work for me the entire time. It comes across as a slog to get through. Overall it just isn’t as funny as it thinks it is. A one note joke that someone tried to make into an entire feature. There’s enough funny moments in some instances to avoid a complete failure. Owen Wilson is sturdy enough in the lead spot to make me at least finish watching even if the ending comes at the cost of spending more time with his character. A character who is rather unlikable, sadly I think that’s part of the joke as well.