Sundance 2021: Mother Schmuckers
sundance 2021Lenny Guit and Harpo Guit's feature directorial debut Mother Schmuckers makes no efforts to hide the film that it is beyond the surface. Following two brothers – Issachar and Zabulon – who lose their mother’s (Claire Bodson) dog in their stupidity and have to find it on a wild adventure around the city, Mother Schmuckers is clearly attempting to be the next gross-out comedy cult classic and makes no efforts to rise above that level.
Due to this choice, there is plenty to criticise within the film. Despite the film using a strangely crafted 1.50 : 1 aspect ratio, it is clear that the quality of filmmaking really wasn't a top priority. The cinematography is often rough and lackluster, while the editing is supposed to compliment the comedy more than anything else. The filmmaking feels cheap and uninspired, never quite going the full distance – such as Fried Barry, for example – to create a standout visual experience. It is passable but ultimately forgettable.
The larger purpose it serves is also rather unremarkable. The comedy within the film often goes for the lowest possible jokes with the feature largely lacking in content that would provide actual enjoyment or laughs. There are times where the performances do strike the perfect wavelength of stupidity to where the film does start to find its footing, but these moments are not nearly consistent enough. It doesn't help that there are multiple sequences that could be seen as problematic and off-putting. Specifically, the film continues the genre’s gross tradition of homophobic humor by showing members of the LGBTQ+ community as being taboo and something to laugh at for how bizarre they can act and, granted, this film is far from as bad as plenty of other features, it still creates some uncomfortable moments.
With that said, it also is hard to fully judge Mother Schmuckers for its final result. These complaints come not from the film's failure to achieve its goals but rather due to the goals themselves. Mother Schmuckers appears to be exactly what it wants to be and for audiences who tend to enjoy this type of humor, it is hard to imagine that they won't also find enjoyment within this film. For those who don't appreciate this kind of comedy, the film will naturally miss the mark. It isn't trying to be anything more, which is at least somewhat respectable as many other comedies do and feel incredibly messy as a result.
From an objective standpoint, it is easy to recommend one skips Mother Schmuckers entirely; those who would find enjoyment out of the film wouldn't be concerned regarding the filmmaking ability of the feature anyway. This really is a film for fans of the genre and anyone who already doesn't enjoy gross-out humor in the style of cult classics the film simply isn't for you and the experience naturally can be quite lackluster as a result.
