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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

big and quiet

Magnum and I watched a... different... movie over the weekend.  I say "different" for lack of a better word. I couldn't decide right away if I liked it or not, but it kept me thinking about it afterwards, so I appreciate that.

Teddy Bear is the story of Dennis, a bodybuilder in his late 30's who still lives with his mother.  He's shy and a bit socially awkward and seems emotionally undeveloped at times.  He is portrayed as a very gentle man who is also lonely.

His uncle has recently married a Thai woman, and Dennis notes how happy they seem together.  He decides to try his luck with finding a woman for himself in Thailand.  He's also aware that his psycho mom wouldn't like him to find a Thai woman - or probably any woman for that matter.

As the movie progresses, we see the almost childlike relationship he has with his mother.  While Dennis is a huge man who earns his own money, he is really a "gentle giant" at home with his mother and in general.

During his trip to Thailand (that he lied to his mom about), he is subjected to some really seedy situations, highlighting the sex tourism side of the country.  He is clearly uncomfortable in these situations, not so much because of his immaturity, but more because he's just not interested in that lifestyle.

The movie is pretty slow-paced without a lot of dialogue, and viewers really get a feel for his loneliness and discomfort.  At one point, while in Thailand, he finds a gym to work out at, and we see how he suddenly feels more "at home" and at ease.  He makes friends easily at the gym, and the younger bodybuilders look up to him.

The gym also happens to be owned and operated by a young Thai woman who took over the business when her husband died.  She and Dennis begin seeing each other.

The movie is deep, funny, sad, disturbing, slow, happy, sweet, creepy...

Trailer is [here].

I guess I liked it in the end.  The problem I had with it, though, stems from Dennis being a bodybuilder.  I think it was right to cast such a huge guy in the role because doing so really contrasts his appearance with who he is inside.  But at the same time, I thought it incongruent for someone so shy and lacking in confidence to be in a profession that is all about putting oneself on display.  His various tattoos also didn't fit the character.

And while I find the science of it interesting, in my humble opinion, bodybuilding is a rather shallow "sport".  The scenes of posing practice and the various photos on the walls of Dennis' bedroom made me like Dennis less than I would have otherwise.  Maybe if his character was a competetive weightlifter or lumberjack or such instead of a bodybuilder, I would've found it more believable.  I still wanted him to be free of his manipulating mom and find happiness, though.

I'll give "Teddy Bear" 3 barbells out of 5.
.

16 comments:

terri said...

Well you intrigued me with "deep, funny, sad, disturbing, slow, happy, sweet, creepy..."

How could anyone NOT want to see such a movie.

I'm curious where you "get" your movies. Red Box? Netflix? Are there even any movie rental stores anymore?

lotta joy said...

I was afraid Dennis was going to turn into a mother-killer or worse. That seems to be the way of movies. And I refuse to watch a movie where an animal is in the opening scene. Walt Disney taught me that rule.

Anonymous said...

Without having seen it, I think I agree with you. The name Teddy Bear does not conjure up an image of a body builder. Other than that it seems like it would be a great story. I love movies that leave you thinking long after the movie is over.

agg79 said...

Ya know, I've found your movie reviews pretty much spot on. I've watched a number of lesser run movies that you have reviewed and found them to be exactly how you rated them. This one looks to be up there on the strange/weird scale. Definitely not a Disney flick.

Guano said...

Man, that guy's powerful presence is certainly the antithesis of his emotional frailty; his mom is the opposite. Agree it may be too extreme to be believable, but that juxtaposition fuels the intrigue.

Abby said...

We often like to watch foreign films when the Hollywood stuff gets old. I'm sure there are some bad foreign movies too, but some of the best movies we've seen are foreign. Netflix has a pretty good selection. I don't think there are many rental stores anymore. If there are, I haven't been to one in years!

Abby said...

Nope, no momicide in this one. Although, she almost makes you want for a mean hunter to take her down, Disney style.

Abby said...

I'm not even sure where the title came from, it's never referred to in the movie. He's just a big gentle bear of a man.

Abby said...

Magnum found this one while perusing recommendations from Netflix. I admit that the muscle factor lured me in, but it turned out to be more than skin deep :)

Abby said...

I think that's the main point the creators were trying to get across. Little crazy mom had the power over big gentle son.

Rebecca S. said...

That's a really good review of the movie, Abby. I got a good sense of it and agree that the tatoos and bodybuilding aspect of his personality might not gel with the rest of him.
Mothers do wield a great power over their sons, and I am very careful about this, personally, and try to let them be 'their own men' as much as I can while still supporting them. It can be a delicate balance.

LL Cool Joe said...

It looks and sounds good. I don't think body building is shallow really. It's still takes dedication and commitment. Sometimes a person can hide behind their physical image.

Thanks for the recommendation, I may well watch it now!

Anita said...

Like Lotta Joy, I was waiting for the crazy to happen; although, I thought the mom might kill a girlfriend or something.

Good review! I generally don't sit for movies or TV (other than news or a mealtime talk show), but a bout with the flu and my current resulting lack of energy made me begin the Downton Abbey series. Who knows where this newfound discovery of entertainment will take me!

Abby said...

Sorry you've been sick, but it is a good excuse to go all couch potato!

Abby said...

It really is a delicate balance, isn't it? I usually think I'm doing too much for them or not giving them enough support. So the net effect is just right... right??

Abby said...

There is certainly discipline and hard work in bodybuilding. It's just the body painting and running around in teeny bikinis that weirds me out.