Reel Talk with the Cinemaddicts Presents Choke

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Author: Zak Stoltz and Cindy Tang|Zak Stoltz and Cindy Tang

Adapted from cult writer Chuck Palahniuk’s 2001 novel of the same name, Choke (2008) bites off more than it can chew – literally.

The film follows the life of Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell), a sex-addicted med-school dropout who cons good Samaritans by allowing them to save him from choking at swanky restaurants. He plays on their pity and pocketbooks to help pay for the hospital care of his demented mother, Ida (Angelica Huston). Along the way, he meets Paige Marshall (Kelly Macdonald), his mother’s hot doctor, who may just change his ways.

Despite the title’s reference to the con, the film focuses more on the suffocating mother-son relationship between Victor and Ida. The rest of the film follows suit – most of Choke’s charm comes from the side stories. The most memorable moments, which include a senile old woman accusing Victor of touching her “woo-woo” and a faux-rape fantasy gone limp, are not the most important.

Sure, we get a good laugh, but this has absolutely no bearing on the storyline. What we get is a tangential chuckle at the expense of the narrative. This is especially problematic given that the film tries to cram a 300-page book into a meager 89 minutes. Major plot events are glossed over, and character relationships are poorly developed. Choke tries to be a dramatic comedy when it should be a comedic drama.

The already weak narrative flow is interrupted by unnecessary (and uninteresting) flashbacks that fail to translate well onto the silver screen. Instead, they appeared explanatory and forced – like much of the plot. The story lacks momentum, despite Victor’s contrived narration meant to guide the audience.

Because there isn’t enough time spent establishing the world of the film, one of the most important plot twists ends up being nothing more than an eye-roll moment. The events that propel the already weak narrative lack believability. First time director and screenplay author Clarg Gregg fails to capture the plausible surrealism of the novel.

Perhaps we’re being a little too harsh – Choke isn’t necessarily terrible for what it is, but rather what it could have been. In the precise and sparkling wake of Fight Club (1999), another film adaptation of a Palahniuk novel, Choke is a disappointment with its negligent interpretation and lackluster screenplay. The film is entertaining but it won’t make you want to read the original novel.

The cast was the saving grace to Choke Even when the storyline took a nosedive (which happened frequently), Rockwell’s portrayal of surly yet likable Victor was captivating. In a role with limitless possibilities, Rockwell milked it for all it was worth. And given the script he had to work with, the results are exemplary. Huston was enchanting as the demented mother we are forced to love, both on her deathbed and in flashbacks 30 years prior.

Kelly Macdonald, who plays Rockwell’s love interest in the film, was a poor choice for the role. Throughout the entire first half of the film, her acting is painful to watch, and despite Rockwell’s stellar performance, the couple’s on-screen chemistry is virtually nonexistent.

Cindy: Choke was entertaining, but ultimately disappointing. Although Rockwell and Huston saved the day with their compelling performances, die hard Palahniuk fans will discover that Chokelacks his classic acidic bite, and instead just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. 2.5/5 Stars.

Zak: Choke is not a good film. Sure, it gets a couple good laughs, but if you’re looking for a good story, look elsewhere. If it weren’t for Sam Rockwell, I’d be giving this film 1.5 stars at best. It’s clunky, it’s stagnant, and it doesn’t do Palahniuk’s novel justice. 2.5/5 Stars.

Final Verdict: Don’t come into this film expecting the next Fight Club, because that’s not what you’ll get. Choke is certainly entertaining with a few laugh-out-loud scenes, but it lacks Palahniuk’s disturbing quirkiness that makes his novels so enjoyable. Choke failed to share the tone of the novel as it tries to be something it was never supposed to be, and it shows.

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