Paint
IFC FilmsThere is a saying that states: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. When a figure or idea becomes iconic and meaningful enough that one will create a work of imitation or parody, there is an understanding of a value or role of that iconography within the zeitgeist that holds power and meaning. On the outside, it seems like this is the understanding held within Brit McAdams's Paint. Starring Owen Wilson as Carl Nargle, an obvious parody of the quiet painter Bob Ross who has attracted the eyes of millions through his hosting job on The Joy of Painting, Paint seems like it is going to be a comedic celebration of the figure. For the first segment of runtime, this intention seems to be true, but rapidly, the film descends into a painful mess of questionable ideas and incompetent logic that creates an experience more boring than watching paint dry.
It is first worthwhile to explore the character of Carl Nargle. Drawing clearly from the iconography and tone of Bob Ross, this character holds a special weight within the film as a figure the audience naturally is drawn to with an innocent charm that is further reinforced by a reoccurring motivation given to the character to face his fears and submit a painting to the local art museum to accomplish a lifelong dream of his. As experienced in projects like Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, there is a way to take the basic presence and identity of a cultural icon and use them in a story of fiction in a way that is imaginative and unique without betraying the figure at the core of the project. Paint is far brasher as it goes further and further away from Bob Ross with the film randomly turning Carl Nargle into a sex-addicted asshole who even becomes the villain of the story at points. While the execution of this is disastrous, it also is beyond questionable when it comes to using the legacy of Bob Ross even in the more unspoken way that Paint does. For anyone hoping to relive the magic of Bob Ross through the film, disappointment is sure to follow.
While the film fails as a capturing of Bob Ross, it is possibly even worse as a work of total fiction. Few films in recent memory have felt as disjointed and incompetent with narrative flow as Paint. Every 20-minute section of the film's runtime sees a complete shift in logic and story with the audience scrambling to keep up with even the basic narrative. Characters will see drastic changes in motivation and relationships feel like a complete roll of the dice. While in one scene two characters can be established as being good friends, the very next will see them as bitter enemies with no reason or warning for the abrupt change. The plot is nearly non-existent with the film feeling like an episode of Saturday Night Live in the worst of ways. Every 20 minutes a new joke or angle will be thought of and the film will switch entirely to embracing that idea only to repeat and shift to the next new idea almost like a series of random skits that happen to feature the same characters.
It doesn't help that this comedy is often the bottom of the barrel. While there are a handful of jokes that truly are marvelous, specifically a closing joke revolving around the artist known as Banksy stands tall, the vast majority of the comedy fails to land. Whether it is due to the uncomfortable nature of turning a seemingly innocent cultural figure into a vulgar mess of toxic attitudes or because the confusion caused by the organization and direction within the film, Paint is often a painfully unfunny viewing experience which is a near death sentence for the film considering it commits to its comedy being the only identity the film holds. This all collects together to cause the film's 96-minute runtime to drag and feel endless.
This messiness and lack of direction make the story of Paint feel clear. The idea of Owen Wilson doing a Bob Ross impersonation was rewarded but the creative talents behind the project realized far too late that this concept was not enough for an entire feature production. Because of this, they started to throw everything at the wall in hopes that something would stick. Sadly, the final result of this process is a messy disaster that holds no value or worth. Paint is one of the weakest comedies in recent memory and it is hard to find a single reason why someone should be compelled to spend their money or time on a project on this level.
