2003, USA
Biography, Comedy, Drama
From off the streets of Cleveland comes the story of a miserably droll man and his miserably droll life. Our hero Harvey Pekar observes life's little annoyances and creates a common world of humor through his surprisingly hilarious underground comic book series, American Splendor. Originally illustrated by perverse comic chum Robert Crumb, Pekar never drew himself, but supplied an array of aggravating situations for numerous illustrators to tackle. In co-directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's creatively entertaining film of the same name, the actual Pekar narrates his life as portrayed by Paul Giamatti, and steps in every so often to straighten out the story.
The film playfully flips between comic book panels, live action sequences, inserted illustrations, and interviews with Pekar and the people of his life. The fantastic soundtrack is crammed with great jazz, influenced by Pekar's years as a jazz critic. This fabulous use of various media keeps even the worst ADD victim alert (as would be noted by the queen of psychological syndromes, Pekar's wife Joyce Brabner). Giamatti nails the frustration and distress that comes with living Pekar's life, and Hope Davis tackles yet another role of someone too dreary to make an effort to smile in Brabner. Both actors are quite successful in their portrayals, and carry off the script's dry humor with much aplomb. With so much to be unhappy about (including a serious bout with cancer that he somehow translates into a comic book), it is amazing just how humorously this film plays, and how entertaining it is without being disheartening.
DVD extras include commentary by cast and crew, a quirky featurette of the Pekar family attending the film's many awards shows, the title song, an HBO Films ad, a trailer, and downloads for the computer.