4 of 4

Mainstream critics are applauding this relentlessly inventive comedy for its performances and cleverness. While many of them call it a "failure," they still recommend it as a consistently surprising, interesting, and ambitious failure, something far better than the aim-low-and-succeed fare filling the multiplexes these days.

Most religious press critics are, however, uncomfortable with the film's philosophical "investigations," and some are offended by the portrayal of a narrow-minded Christian family (never mind the fact that there are some narrow-minded Christians out there). While the film does indeed fall short of the deep consolation it seems determined to inspire, it has the potential to be a wonderful conversation-starter, raising big questions about choices, consequences, and ideas in a way that recalls The Matrix, Waking Life, and Magnolia.

My full review is at Christianity Today Movies, and you can read my interview with David O. Russell and the film's co-writer Jeff Baena there as well—it turned out to be the most surprising and unpredictable interview I've ever done.

Annabelle Robertson (Crosswalk) says Huckabees "attacks those who pursue knowledge at the cost of relationships, portraying how that ultimately results in emptiness. Unfortunately, however, without a decent plot or credible characters—not to mention lead actors who do their jobs—it just doesn't stand a chance. Moreover, the real message of the film is loud and clear. While taking a dig at those who thirst for real knowledge, Russell is trying to illustrate that there is no truth—only raving lunatics who think they've found it."

Chris Monroe (Christian Spotlight) writes, "The whole story is very absurdist and abstract and can also make you laugh. So much of the movie is philosophical ranting and raving and overwrought humorous drama that it really is a fun piece for these actors, [who provide] most of the entertainment. With hints of Magnolia and dashes of Rushmore, this film does carry some … originality. However, [it] doesn't give you much to walk away with."

Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) writes, "Despite the clever philosophical rambling and world-sized questions many of the characters raise, nothingness is what this film amounts to. We simply wait for the circuitous logic to run its course and deposit us at the end of the film as clueless as we were when we started. In other words, we shouldn't expect this movie to take us anywhere … all we are supposed to do is enjoy the ride."

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The Movie Director Who Made Me a Priest	Printer view
In a fascinating and sometimes off-the-wall interview, David O. Russell, director of I ♥ Huckabees, challenged my thinking—but not my faith—and gave me a clerical collar.