Damsel Review
R: For some violence, language, sexual material, and brief graphic nudityMagnolia Pictures, Great Point Media1 Hr and 53 MinutesWriter/Dir: David Zellner, Nathan ZellnerCast: Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, Robert Forster, David Zellner, Nathan Zellner as Rufus Cornell, Joseph Billingiere
As Samuel Alabaster (Robert Pattinson) travels across the American Frontier, on a journey to marry the love he has always looked for, Penelope (Mia Wasikowski), life becomes more and more dangerous. Accompanied by his miniature horse, Butterscotch, and drunkard companion, Parson Henry (David Zellner), the lines between hero, villain and damsel in distress become more and more blurred in this comic reinvention of the classic western movie.THE GOODWhen I think of comedy westerns, there are only two routes you can go, you can end up like “Blazing Saddles”, “Rango”, and “City Slickers” and be great; or you can become unfunny and obnoxious like “Million Ways to Die in the West”. Thankfully, “Damsel” is… middle of the road. From the very beginning the humor is very much similar to “Million Ways to Die in the West” but is much smarter and more subtle. Tonally, “Damsel” is the film that “Million Ways” wishes it was where it manages to be screwball but defies the cliched tropes within the genre.
Who in the hell knew that Robert Pattinson had a comedic side? With every film I’ve seen Pattinson star in as of recently, he proves that he has a larger range than anyone had ever expected. Robert Pattinson is having the time of his life in this. It’s as if after “Twilight” his acting abilities just skyrocketed to 100%. He was incredible in “Good Time” and is charismatically energetic in this. This is his first fully comedic role and at first he’s just trying, but as the film progresses he gets so much better. His comedic timing is often on point and his delivery is hysterical.This just adds to the streak of Pattinson’s successful performances. His character Samuel isn’t that strong gun-slinging cowboy or anything. Right when he’s introduced, you see that he’s kind of a pansy. He takes sips outta shot glasses, speaks in a soft voice, his Adam’s apple is small (it’s a joke in the film to describe how weak he is, I guess), and he tends to miniature horses that look like Lil’ Sebastian.
NEVER FORGET LIL’ SEBASTIAN Mia Wasikowska was usually known as that actress you see in only period pieces mostly set during the Victorian ages. In films such as “Crimson Peak” and the Disney/Burton “Alice in Wonderland” movies, Wasikowska was always so soft spoken and her characters weren’t so smart. Here, Wasikowska says, “Fuck that” and gives the highlight performance of her career by far. She is giving her all for not only does she have to be a badass with a mind of her own, but she has to have a comical side, which she accomplishes on both accounts. There is a drastic shift within the second act where the lantern that was carried by Pattinson is given to Wasikowska and she carries it brilliantly.THE BADThe story at first is basic and one-note which may come across as dull, but if you hang on long enough it twistingly flips itself and becomes an entirely different movie, mostly like a parody of sorts. Similar to what “Shrek” was to fairytale stories, “Damsel” is that to western movies. While something like “Shrek” had a thoroughly thought out story within its satirization, “Damsel” is very aimless.
The Zeller brothers manage to defy the tropes cleverly but in accounts of story, it builds up to nothing. It has narrative twists and turns that gives it originality, but it just goes nowhere right after. I get it, making a western comedy is hard. Barely any western comedies prosper, especially during the 21st century. You have to play with the dark and gritty elements the West was during its time while trying to make people laugh with humorous jokes. If you’re a western comedy, you’re pretty much a dark comedy by default. Unfortunately, this just doesn’t have an ounce of clever humor until 40 minutes in and even then it descends back into nothingness after the 20 minutes that proceed it, especially when it becomes an entirely different movie. AND THE MOVIE IS 2 HOURS! “Damsel” is two hours long and is paced so slow and provides big laughs every 20 minutes or so.LAST STATEMENT"Damsel" showcases strong comedic performances from both Pattinson and Wasikowska, but wastes its potential with an uneven script that has short breaths of brain but is drowned by its own mediocrity.Rating: 2.5/5 | 59%Super Scene: Penelope confronts Samuel.
