Title: Choke

Director: Clark Gregg

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly MacDonald, Brad William Henke

Genre: Comedy

Running Time: 89 min.

Rated: R

Released: September 26^th

Reviewed By: Alan Jones (Toronto Correspondent – Canada)

Choke begins with Victor (Sam Rockwell) explaining, via voice-over, his presence at a support group for Sex Addicts. He then goes to the back room to have sex with the girl he’s supposed to be sponsoring. It’s fitting that Choke begins with a support group, as it is the second Chuck Pahlaniuk adaptation to be brought to the screen, as well as the second Chuck Pahlaniuk adaptation to spend a chunk of its running time in support groups. The first Pahlaniuk novel to be adapted into a film was Fight Club, in which the main character is addicted to the support groups themselves. Similar in a manner to Fight Club, Choke features a cynical, wry voiceover from the main character. And also similar to Fight Club, the Pahlaniuk doesn’t quite tie up the loose ends of the narrative in a satisfying manner. Choke, however, also lacks the visual flair, the keen editing, and the biting social satire of Fight Club. Some of the things Victor says nearing the end of the film feel like they came from a book far less subversive than one Pahlaniuk would ever admit to writing.

Pahlaniuk stories tend to be full of despicable non-conforming eccentrics and Choke is no different. Victor is, as I have established, a sex addict. He works as a “historical interpreter” at a colonial theme park, which requires him to dress like an 18^th Century colonist and never bring a modern newspaper to work. His best friend, Denny (Brad William Henke), also attends the sex addict support groups, but is really just a compulsive masturbator. Victor’s mother, Ida (Anjelica Huston), is suffering from dementia in a care home. When Victor was a child, Ida used to steal him from his foster parents on a regular basis. We learn this from some unfortunate flashbacks in which Huston seems to be dressed as Carmen Sandiego. In order to pay for Ida’s nursing home fees, Victor frequents restaurants, where he then purposefully chokes on a piece of food in order to be saved by some good Samaritan, who then insists on giving him money, because people feel responsible for the life they just saved.

It’s a credit to first time writer-director Clark Gregg that he manages to present these absurd characters in an amusing manner. The film can be very funny at times, and never in a campy over-the-top way (with the exception of some scenes at the historical theme park). Unfortunately, the humour is, at times, overwhelmed by the drama. Something Pahlaniuk would never concede to.

But the script also denies us the chance to relate to these characters. Although it is said at some point that Victor dropped out of medical school in order to put Ida in the home, these redeeming aspects of the character are never explored and Victor never comes across as anything more than a misanthropic asshole. I suppose we’re supposed to see the character develop as he strikes up a dysfunctional relationship with Ida’s cute young doctor, Paige (Kelly MacDonald), but I couldn’t shake the feeling that she deserved better, at least until a final act plot twist that made little sense in terms of plot and character. Some of the fault may be due to the hurried running time. The film runs only 89 minutes, and pacing problems are abound, especially with the unnecessary subplot concerning Denny and his relationship with a stripper that he just met.

Overall, the acting is fine. Sam Rockwell is suitably pathetic and Anjelica Huston gives Ida enough humanity to stop her from being nothing but a total bitch. Kelly MacDonald is unfortunately lost with an American accent, which is odd, considering her turn in No Country For Old Men last year, but otherwise, she plays her role well. The movie is an admirable effort, but the disparate elements can’t come together. Pahlaniuk’s characters are not redeemed enough to be cared about here, and the film is poorly made. That said, there are still some very funny moments in the film and it is worthwhile viewing, if only for those that truly enjoy dark twisted comedy in the Pahlaniuk vein.