Fans of writer Chuck Palahniuk waited a long time for Hollywood to adapt one of his books for the big screen. So when Fight Club"" fans heard the news of another Palahniuk adaptation, ""Choke,"" they took notice, hoping for another cult classic in the making. But be warned. Unlike ""Fight Club,"" ""Choke"" relies not on action, but comedy, which, in this movie, only actor Sam Rockwell delivers.
Rockwell, well known for his indie acting performances, plays the main character Victor, a sex-addicted con man who comes up with a master scam to pay for his mother's (Anjelica Huston) hospital bills since she is suffering from Alzheimer's. The trick: He purposely chokes on food at fancy restaurants so wealthy patrons will save his life and then feel responsible for him for the rest of his life - a responsibility that often comes in the form of cash.
Without Rockwell as the lead role, this film might have been a disaster. He captures Victor's self-loathing attitude perfectly and has the audiences rolling with laughter, especially when he goes to visit demented patients at his mother's hospital and puts on different personas to play along with the patients' fantasies. At one point the patients even think he is the half clone of Jesus!
Anjelica Huston, meanwhile, is her usual brilliant self, portraying Victor's messy, yet outgoing mother.
The most distracting part of this movie is how director Clark Gregg chose to leap back and forth between Victor's present situation and memories of his childhood. There seems to be no thought in the spacing of these scenes and Gregg cuts between them randomly, leaving the audience dizzy and wondering when he'll strike next. Rockwell's voiceover narration can also get irritating, but, for the most part, it is well-written and adds comedy to the average scene.
When compared to the explosive ""Fight Club,"" ""Choke"" is extremely slow paced and can appear hokey, especially when Victor is coming to terms with his mother and his abandonment issues. The script is solid and the actors are well-chosen, but you can tell this is Clark Gregg's directing debut because the scene transitions are sloppy and lack connection. If you're a fan of the book, the big chunks of material left out of the movie adaptation might also disappoint you.
Overall, however, ""Choke"" is targeted more at fans of Palahniuk's books than general audiences. ""Fight Club"" fans who haven't read ""Choke"" will appreciate the witty voice-overs but be disappointed by the story, and average moviegoer will quickly forget this film, thinking it outrageously bizarre and wondering why anyone would find it hysterical.
Grade: BC
