Eagle vs Shark is Taika Waititi’s cult Kiwi classic that follows the unorthodox romance of two socially inept adults who don’t fit in with the world around them, yet find belonging in each other.
The film begins with Lily (Loren Horsley), a shy cashier at a fast food restaurant in Wellington, pining after Jarrod (Jemaine Clement), a geeky, unlikable nerd who works at a nearby video game store. Jarrod attempts to make a move on Jenny, Lily’s attractive and popular coworker, by inviting her to a “dress as your favourite animal” party at his flat. Lily attends instead dressed as a shark, and Jarrod attends dressed as an eagle. From this party, a semblance of a relationship is formed.
The bulk of the film is set in Porirua, Jarrod’s hometown. When we see his family dynamics, structure, and history, we see what made him so rotten in a way that pulls at the heartstrings of audience members. Behind Jemaine Clement’s dry, stoic delivery is a relatable and well-developed character. Lily is able to look beyond the surface and see a fragile and broken man who was never given quite enough love, giving the character an extra layer of depth developed by Loren Horsley’s soft and sweet style of acting as Lily.
The first encounters between Lily and Jarrod are awkwardly hilarious, Taika Waititi’s classic dry humour sculpted by the familiar New Zealand accents of the characters in the film. I found myself rooting for Lily and her sweet, unconfident attempts at getting Jarrod’s attention, and laughing at his arrogance and lack of self-awareness. Loren Horsley and Jemaine Clement give their characters an undeniable charm that captures the audience throughout the movie. Their comedic chemistry is guaranteed to grasp the attention of any person watching this quirky comedy.
The sprinklings of claymation that the audience is treated with gives the film its own special sparkle, setting it apart from other romantic comedies of the time. Jarrod is portrayed as a “rotten apple”, which is not only indicative of his character, but also contrasts how Lily is sweet and pure right to her very core, yet able to love someone as undesirable as Jarrod despite all his flaws. The claymation is intricate and playful, adding a special form of artistry. I was completely entrapped in these little moments of childlike wonder that made the emotional moments of the film even more impactful on me as a viewer.
Every character in this film is unable to fully grasp onto the world around them in some way or another. Lily and Jarrod are socially inept, Vinny lacks any sort of relationship with her father, Jarrod’s sister and her husband are unable to get their business off the ground, and Jarrod’s father is physically bound to a wheelchair. All of these characters are well thought-out and developed by the talented cast of actors to exhibit the challenges of adjusting to society, comforting a diverse audience which hosts many different fears of how to navigate the difficult world that they live in.
Lily balances Jarrod’s selfishness with pure, unwavering kindness. Despite her difficulty making friends and adjusting to adulthood, she carved a soft spot in my heart by never giving up or changing who she is for other people. In the claymation segments, she is portrayed as an apple core in how she wears her heart on her sleeve and unapologetically opens herself up to the world, not willing to hide behind a shiny red exterior. Her persistent kindness softens Jarrod and develops him from someone who is arrogant and unwilling to make room for others in his life, to someone who can genuinely care for Lily in the way that she deserves. All of us can take a lesson in kindness from this film while having a good laugh along the way.
Eagle vs Shark isn’t your average romantic comedy. It isn’t flashy, fake, or plastic. It’s real, funny, and heartwarming in its own unique way. It’s a movie that never fails to cheer me up on a sad and lonely day and a soft reminder that there’s someone for everyone, even the most awkward and shy of us all.
Cerys Gibby – Year 12
