Ick Review: Brandon Routh Charms in a Genre-Bending Blast

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As a seasoned movie enthusiast who’s witnessed the rise and fall of many a cinematic phenomenon, I can confidently say that Joseph Kahn’s latest offering, “Ick,” is an absolute delight. Having grown up with MTV in its heyday, I found myself reminiscing about the good old days as I watched this film unfold. The soundtrack alone took me back to my angsty teen years, filled with pop-punk anthems that seemed to resonate perfectly with the story’s high school setting.

It has been seven years since director Joseph Kahn last released the film “Bodied,” an audacious dark comedy that revolves around a liberal white youth who unexpectedly enters the world of competitive battle-rap. With its bold commentary on woke culture and identity politics, as well as its delight in transgressing boundaries, “Bodied” seemed to be a visionary work for its time. Kahn’s latest film, titled “Ick,” appears timeless despite being heavily influenced by the early 2000s MTV era, where Kahn gained fame as the director of iconic music videos such as Britney Spears’ “Toxic” and Eminem’s “Without Me.

Brandon Routh portrays Hank Wallace, a standard high-school football quarterback aspiring to break free from his small town and make it big, accompanied by his stunning cheerleader girlfriend Staci (played convincingly by Mena Suvari). However, Hank’s life takes an abrupt turn when he experiences a debilitating injury on the field, caused by a bizarre, tentacle-like creature known to locals as “the Ick,” which ends his career. As a result, Hank loses both his girlfriend and his college opportunity, leading him down a path of alcoholism. This backstory is presented in a swiftly edited opening scene that highlights Kahn’s directorial skills effectively.

A series of scenes showcases the subsequent phase in Hank’s life, where he works as a janitor at his former high school and attends night classes to pursue a career as a science teacher. Simultaneously, Staci enjoys a content marriage with Ted Kim (Peter Wong), her real estate partner, who could potentially be the father of their 16-year-old daughter, Grace (Malina Pauli Weissman). It’s worth noting that Hank and Grace share a past, as they had a brief romance approximately nine months before Grace was born. This connection between Hank and his potential offspring lends a strong foundation to the complex narrative structure of the ensuing sci-fi turmoil.

For years, I, a cinema enthusiast, have lived alongside the seemingly innocuous creature known as the Ick, which bears a striking resemblance to Venom’s symbiote and carries an ominous undertone. However, when it enters its rapid growth phase and transforms into a full-blown body-snatcher, its sinister aura becomes undeniable. Now, the fate of the town – and potentially my daughter? – hangs in the balance, with Hank being our only hope for survival.

Messed-Up Fun for (Almost) the Whole Family

In his latest movie, Kahn explained that he aimed to create a film he could share with his tween daughter. The movie, titled Ick, stands out among many diverse genre productions due to its avoidance of the saccharine aspects common in family-oriented movies. It’s not only genuinely amusing but also resists being overly self-important or excessively clever. Although the film’s central danger serves as a clever symbol for how young adults may become stuck in their hometowns after high school, it never comes across as didactic or condescending.

In this modern retelling, Kahn gives a fresh twist to the typical array of high school characters: an adorable goth girl with a timid charm, a handsome lad using progressive culture humorously to seduce, a misinterpreted artistic loner, and Grace as our empathetic yet downtrodden lead character. The story is anchored by Brandon Routh, who exudes charisma in his everyman, blue-collar hero role. His performance in Ick brings to mind the charm of Bruce Campbell or John Ritter – there’s a timeless quality to his allure.

Ick Is a Delightful 2000s Time Capsule

The music in this production features well-known tunes from that specific time period, predominantly pop-punk songs: Fall Out Boy, Dashboard Confessional, Fountains of Wayne (it’s just fitting to have a character named Staci without mentioning “Stacy’s Mom”), Plain White Ts, and Creed. The use of Creed in particular adds a touch of humor. An unexpected appearance from former MTV host Carson Daly as an Alex Jones-like figure who spreads bizarre theories about the Ick might excite or unsettle millennials.

Picture an early MTV-style live-action rendition of Junji Ito’s work, and that’s Ick. The visual effects might need some polishing, and the editing, initially fast-paced, could use a bit more fine-tuning after the first half. However, there’s no shortage of excitement in Ick, as it updates an old concept and then sends it back to 2006 with a contemporary twist.

As a filmmaker, Joseph Kahn consistently shocks with his unique approach. His first feature, “Torque” in 2004, was a satirical action film starring Martin Henderson and Ice Cube that received criticism at its release. Seven years later, he released “Detention” in 2011, an R-rated sci-fi horror comedy featuring Josh Hutcherson. This film centered on a group of teenagers who use time travel to combat a murderer mimicking a serial killer from a movie. “Detention” was both late to the postmodern horror trend and surprisingly early for its resurgence, not to mention the current fascination in Hollywood with the multiverse. In 2017, he surprised us again with “Bodied”, a film that seemed forward-thinking compared to his previous works.

With Ick, Kahn continues to prove himself as unpredictable as he is singular. Hopefully, this one finds an audience sooner rather than later. Watch this space for more details about the film’s release.

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2024-10-07 01:33