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‘Made in China’s no pet rock
Did you know that the pet rock phenomenon in the 1970s lasted just six months?
But in those 180 days, inventor Gary Dahl made millions and encapsulated the potent earning power of a fad.
Dahl and his ilk (Richard James’ slinky and Milton Levine’s ant farm, for example) also inspire earnest young entrepreneur Johnson (Jackson Kuehn) on his quest to join that quirky tribe in “Made in China,” the debut film by Austin’s Judi Krant that premiered Sunday at the Alamo Ritz.
Johnson leaves behind a worried mom and an apathetic sister to visit Shanghai, a production epicenter of all things cheap and plastic. He endures a swindler, roundabouts through Shanghai’s back alleys and a most unfortunate faux-Chinese business suit before finding redemption with his own invention.
At its best, “Made in China” delivers a charming narrative against the backdrop of fads and their history. Kuehn (acting every bit a native of Woodville, Texas) offers a convincing portrayal of a budding salesman with lots of naivety and just enough backbone.
Sure, the debut film can drag at times. Jokes fall flat, the plot meanders. But “Made in China” never strays too far off its course. Krant cleverly creates a dichotomy of worlds. She filmed Johnson’s hometown in Woodville, using (in true independent filmmaking spirit) Kuehn’s mom not only as an actor but also the location manager. The shots in Shanghai resulted from “being a little crafty,” Krant said, in some older neighborhoods not trumpeted by Chinese tourist officials. They give the film an unusual air of authenticity.
Expect both Krant and Kuehn to have a shelf life more like the slinky than, say, that pet rock.
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By Dorothy LaBarbera
March 16, 2009 7:20 PM | Link to this
I saw Made In China today and enjoyed every minute of it! The humor and “ah shucks” pathos were delicately threaded together and sustained. I look forward to its general release so I can enjoy it again with my friends and family. And I agree that this talented group will have staying power. More, Ms. Krant!