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Capsule review: ‘Punching the Clown’

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Austin360 blogs > Austin Movie Blog > Archives > 2009 > October > 22 > Entry

By Chris Garcia | Thursday, October 22, 2009, 12:05 PM

Henry Phillips is an unassuming singer-songwriter who performs jokey folk songs at open-mike bars and cafes. He’s slightly better than mediocre, thanks to the absurdist bent of his dryly satirical lyrics, but he’s rudderless, and his music, which isn’t hilarious, is a tough sell.

So Henry Phillips — played by musician Henry Phillips, who co-wrote the film — goes to crash at his brother’s place in Los Angeles, where he decides to give his peculiar act a go. Problem is, L.A. eats nice, marginally talented guys like Henry as finger food. Gulp. There he goes.

“Punching the Clown” is a slight and shaggy comedy that shuffles along at a lackadaisical tempo that matches Henry’s slackerish ambitions. When Henry lands a recording deal, you know it won’t go anywhere, and it doesn’t. He meets a girl, but flubs it.

While it takes some trenchant jabs at L.A’s oily showbiz culture, the movie isn’t really an L.A. satire, and it barely hangs together as a character study. Phillips plays a version of himself in soft-focus. He has wit but no edge and his emotional palette is monochrome. He’s the passive victim, bordering on cipher.

His is a sad song about struggle and disillusionment. Though it’s a likable tune, sometimes inspired, it’s not quite catchy enough.

“Punching the Clown” screens at 7:30 p.m. Monday at The Independent at 501 and 10 p.m. Tuesday, Alamo Lake Creek

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By jack anderson

October 25, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this

I disagree with the review. I saw the film at Slamdance earlier this year and it rocked! The audience was in tears. The original songs he sings in the film are awesome and some of the funniest moments in film I have seen. Sorry you didn’t “get” it, but see it with a crowd in Austin and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.