Voices, The (2015)
Staci Layne Wilson
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Starring Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick, Jacki Weaver
Directed by Marjane Satrapi
Long before the Dr. Doolittle children’s stories were published in the 20s and the unforgettably goofy lyrics to the song in the 60s film version were sung by Rex Harrison –
I conferred with our furry friends, man to animal,
Think of the amazing repartee
If I could walk with the animals, talk with the animals,
Grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals,
And they could talk to me!
– people have dreamt of chatting with cats or dishing with their dogs. Even in this day and age, “talking pet” videos go viral. And most folks do talk to their furry friends all the time. But it’s that last line in the verse, “And they could talk to me!,” which resonates in relation to Ryan Reynolds’ new serial killer comedy, The Voices.
Jerry Hickfang (Reynolds) is lovable loser, just trying to get along in a workaday job at the Milton Bathtub Factory and lamenting his lackluster love life. He is also certifiably mental and has stopped taking his prescribed anti-psychotic medication.
This unfettered fugue state leads him to believe that his ginger cat is telling him to kill innocent women, while his hangdog hound argues against it. Or… are Jerry pets actually speaking to him? As their mouths move (aided by Babe-like CGI) and their eyes seem imbued with dark intellect, one may wonder what’s really going on in Jerry’s whacky world.
Combining elements of American Psycho, Eight Heads in a Duffel Bag, and Cats & Dogs, The Voices still manages to be an animal all its own. Reynolds’ eerie yet likable Jerry is well supported by an array of actresses with chops (before they get chopped, anyway…) such as Anna Kendrick, Gemma Arterton, and Jacki Weaver. Not to mention it’s helmed by a female director (Marjane Satrapi). Perhaps it’s the estrogen that saves The Voices from being just another crazy serial killer flick – whatever it is, it works.
Which is not to say The Voices isn’t without its issues. It’s talky (duh!), sags a tad in the middle, and doesn’t quite fully embrace the madness. But it’s quirky, and it’s often quite funny while still maintaining the level of gore and violence horror fans expect. Worth a look (that is, if your pet gives you permission).
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Film
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