It's pretty easy to pigeon-hole Jesse Eisenberg as a one note actor but in all honesty, he's one of the only actors working who intrigues me with his every project just because he seems to have a knack for working on such interesting concepts. Granted, he's not without his blemishes (Batman v. Superman, American Ultra, 30 Minutes or Less) but his work on the unbelievably underrated Adventureland and The End of the Tour have bought him the benefit of the doubt for me.
And while his role in The Art of Self-Defense isn't all that dissimilar from what you'd expect to see from him at this point, this isn't a film that relies on it's performances to carry it. Granted, Eisenberg makes for a phenomenally insecure lead to center the story around and Imogeen Poots steals the film with her sympathetic portrayal of a young woman trapped in a competition rigged against her - but it's the hilariously dark script that makes the film so engaging.
While it takes a little while to get going, it's as smart a satire on toxic masculinity as you're likely to find anywhere. The dark comedy and borderline absurdist humor finally burst through when Eisenberg's character, Casey, uses his new found confidence and machismo to overcome situations in which he'd regularly feel inferior in. The film's incredible perspective on the ridiculousness of the testosterone driven need for success through the hilarious vehicle of a karate studio works brilliantly.
But perhaps what's most impressive is how writer/director Riley Stearns is able to tackle the subject matter in such a humorous way while retaining a sense of sincerity and sympathy regarding the damage the film's antagonist is causing. At first it's funny to see Eisenberg trying to act tough and impose himself where he was previously passive but when you see the extremes of where this toxic mindset can lead and the consequences that can often occur as a result, the film takes a dark turn. And even darker still when exploring the origins of the dojo and the Sensei's behavior.
The Art of Self-Defense is an incredibly smart and twisted examination of the psychology of toxic masculinity. It's not always laugh out loud funny, but more an insightful and humorous social exploration. With this film Riley Stearns has emerged as one of the most promising new voices in cinema and an inspired filmmaker to keep on your radar.
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