My Name is Buttons (2002)
Imagine, if you can, "Patch Adams"
meets "Flowers for Algernon," Got it? Now turn it
inside-out, shake it around a little and spill the
contents all over Austin, Texas. That's "My Name is
Buttons," an amusing, albeit sometimes unfocused,
comedy written by John Merriman and Courtney Davis
that couldn't take place anywhere but in Austin. The
duo who wrote it also direct and star in the film.
In many ways, it's a tour-duo-force.
Merriman is Hunter, a character
that will register immediately with anyone who lives
in Austin. Hunter is an activist who likes to protest
pretty much against anything that he finds "corporate"
or commercial. He's also an artist who refuses to
have his shows at galleries because, of course, they
are, well, corporate and commercial. I know guys like
this. They are not fun.
Hunter hangs out with a girl (Davis)
and some guy with dreads and bitches a lot. The trio
work for Booklovers. This is a brilliant spoof of
Austin's mom and pop Barnes and Noble knockoff, Bookpeople
- themselves a commercial entity that thrives on seeming
to appear like a locally-owned non- commercial place.
(Surprisingly, Bookpeople allowed the film to use
their facilities for shooting). But you don't have
to be from Austin to get this. I bet there are places
like Bookpeople in college towns like Austin all over
the country. These pretentious, huge store making
money pretending to be something other than "The Man."
(The Booklovers section of the film is probably the
best workplace spoof since "Office Space").
Anyway, when the trio get fired,
they decide to become human guinea pigs at a research
facility. (This is also a idea that anyone who lives
in a college town can appreciate).
Enter doctor Lamb Williams, a parody
of Patch Adams, who does much, much, much more harm
than good by treating his patients with laughter rather
than traditional medicine. Well, except in the case
of Hunter, who, as Williams asserts, is so miserable
that he must be overly-medicated to make him happy.
Williams, in fact, medicates him to the point of retardation
(hence the "Flowers for Algernon" in reverse angle).
This film is hilarious. I laughed
my ass off. There's just lots and lots of funny gags
in the thing. I mean, I've never even seen "Patch
Adams,' but it doesn't matter. We all know what "Patch
Adams" is about. This isn't a shot for shot spoof
of the film, it just spoofs the idea. And the real
story is about a guy turning into a mindless dolt,
that's what's funny.
Merriman is awesome as Hunter nee
Buttons. His transformation here is flawless. When
Merriman becomes retarded, for lack of a better word,
it almost seems like a different actor has taken over
the role; he's that good.
But the real find here is Davis.
Now, I know Courtney personally, as we've worked together
at the Austin Film Festival for a couple of years
(she's even been on my cable access show), but I didn't
know she was this funny! I mean, she's a great comedic
actress. She's so good, it doesn't even seem like
she's trying. She has a natural sense of humor that
just evolves out of everything she does. I only wish
she had more to do here.
The film is shot by a competent
DP. It will astound you with it's crisp linear look
and it's perfect color. The video version we saw at
the Austin Film Festival looked gorgeous. I've never
seen a video that looked quite this good. But, in
fact, it looked a little too good. For a film as seemingly
freeform and wild as "Buttons" is, the crisp edges
and perfect lighting often made the piece seem more
like a made- for-TV affair than a comedy. It looked
like it was made for Fox Family or something. In fact,
it would be perfectly acceptable for kids (and I mean
that in a good way) if the word "fuck" wasn't used
a couple of times.
Merriman and Davis prove themselves
to be truly funny both behind the typewriter and in
front of the camera. If this film does nothing else,
it proves that each is a comic force to be reckoned
with. These are two names that I think you will see
a lot more of in the days to come. I'm hoping we see
as much of Courtney Davis on camera as we do behind
it.
Note:
Davis was the Film Programmer of
the Austin Film Festival from 2001-2002.
Edited by J. Kevin Smith.
Lotsa cool local musicians contribute
alt_pop songs to the score.
