Once you get through the expositional haze that flows through Harmony Korine’s latest Florida sunshine-soaked film, Moondog (Matthew McConaughey) utters something utterly brilliant. He tells a friend of his that the key to life is “caring about everything and nothing at all.” That entire sentence embodies Korine’s story, and it is one that I would love to bask in once again.
Normally, there’s an element of violence or hardened societal reflection in the artistry of the writer-director. What sets The Beach Bum apart, is it just might be the auteur’s most uplifting tale yet. Sure, there are prices to pay for actions. Yet in the scheme of things, Moondog manages to elevate himself over such pedantic measures of moral righteousness and keep doing what he’s doing.
McConaughey enters this movie as one might expect him to, but that is where expectation and stereotype cease to coexist. This is a character unlike any that the Oscar winner has tackled in his storied career. Moondog is a rich, genius of a character. It is through his utter brilliant use of the English language as a weapon that he manages to disarm those who may see him as a burn out or lost soul. Spend five minutes with him, and one will subtly realize that what they just experienced by their shared physical space with this celestial spirit was actually the most beautifully blissful shared human spaces that one can inhabit. In many ways, one could argue—or maybe it is just me—that Moondog is an inspiration. We should all approach life the way that he does, maybe a little lighter on the substances and booze. But, then again, that aspect is as firm a part of his persona as his lungs have a will to breathe.
Moondog is a poet of great esteem. His work has made him (somewhat) wealthy. But it’s been a long time since the writer did anything that caught people’s consciousness and made them think. He’s been awash in all that Floridan folly and years have passed with no concrete productivity of any merit.
Isla Fisher is Moondog’s wife, Minnie. She portrays her like a firecracker that befits someone who would fall in love with Moondog, marry him and bear him a daughter, Heather (Stefania LaVie Owen). Moondog is partial to the Keys, whereas his beyond-wealthy wife is living her life in Miami. She is pushing her husband to finish his next great American novel, something his agent Lewis (Jonah Hill) is also in his face about. It’s been years since he published, even though he continuously writes. The wedding of their daughter is what first brings Moondog to Miami in the opening moments of the story. With that stroke of story structure, it gives us a view of our protagonist “amongst his people” in the Keys and then introduces the wife and Miami high-life aspect of his world within the film’s first two dozen minutes. It is also during this family wedding gathering that Snoop’s Lingerie is first seen. So, between our three leads and supporting players—who they are, what they do and how they are tethered to Moondog in this crazy, wild and wacky world—is all accomplished in the most entertaining, enlightening and efficient manner.
Lingerie is a successful R&B singer, a longtime friend of the titular character, and key to aiding the high part of his elevated odyssey. He is as much of a marijuana aficionado as his brother from another mother. The two together are just such joy to watch.
There is a cornucopia of smaller supporting roles throughout The Beach Bum. Each is more compelling than the last. From Flicker, Moondog’s break-out-of-rehab partner (a wild looking Zac Efron), to Martin Lawrence’s Captain Wack (whose “go see a dolphin” boat business is a joke that keeps on giving), and even Jimmy Buffet as himself—which only makes sense since this is an alcohol-soaked trip through Buffet’s Sunshine State home. Then, there is Hill. The versatile actor illustrates why he has that reputation with this explosively bizarre—in the best of ways—turn as Moondog’s agent. Hill’s performance is sensational and sorry to say, but I won’t go into it any more than that for fear of those pesky spoilers!
The Snoop and McConaughey pairing is a riveting one. It brings humor. It involves heaps of heart and endearment. What else it achieves is the fact that how is it taken two decades of both in the public eye for these two to work together? They seem like such birds of a feather and hopefully others see their collective movie magic in The Beach Bum, and we get more projects that feature these two working side-by-side.
Every actor I’ve interviewed over the years says that there is always one element of a screenplay they look for and it’s one that is a deal breaker of the highest order. Whether they are portraying a protagonist or antagonist, thespians seek redemption, evolution or at the least … some sort of move of the needle that gives us all hope for the future. The message, for lack of a better word, in The Beach Bum is delivered by Moondog. After everything we’ve been through with this wacked out gem of a soul, it is priceless and in no way, me telling you is a spoiler. It’s simple, really. Life is serious. Life is short. There are plenty of times where we need to take on issues and handle our business. But there is something that every single person on the planet should never forget and that is to have fun. Carve out enjoyment in one’s life, no matter what else is encircling your personal universe. That sentiment will strike a chord in the most resonant of ways, across cultures, geography and every other element that defines us as a species.
Korine paints with a South Florida brush that brings pastel hues and brilliant sunsets, but in the most subtle of ways this time out. There was a neon blast feel to Spring Breakers that is less here. It’s hinted at, but never pushed and that is a wise decision. Each of his creations stand on their own, with his own unique verbal gymnastics for his characters and of course, a cornucopia of vivid visual majesty. The cinematography here is more placid where in Spring Breakers it was as harried and chaotic as that story. It’s great to see a filmmaker stop and smell the roses. Thing is, in The Beach Bum, it fits the characters, the scenery and the tone given off by our players. Some of the scenes feel like they were even shot with a handheld, which gives the viewer a priceless sense that you are as part of the scene as Moondog and his cohorts. It’s fascinating, it’s rare the movie that makes you want to dive into the world and be a part of it instead of just a witness to it. The Beach Bum is that film.
While not as in your face as Spring Breakers—visually or message producing, The Beach Bum is an enormously affable journey through the burnt-out pages of a fading writer who somehow must find a way to dig deep (with chemical help of course) and emerge from his dark haze with poetic insight so glaringly bright that he stuns us all once again. This is firmly Korine’s world and we are merely living it. Frankly, that is just fine. In fact, whatever he comes up with next, my ticket will be punched for his next (hopefully) Florida fun ride. See, there’s that word again—fun.
Grade: A-