Eagle vs Shark (2007)

Director:

Taika Cohen

Writers:

Taika Cohen (story)
Taika Cohen (written by)

Release Date:

17 August 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Finding love was never so... Awkward.

Plot:

Eagle vs Shark is the tale of two socially awkward misfits and the strange ways they try to find love; through revenge on high-school bullies, burgers, and video games. |

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Video Game | Bird In Title | Versus In Title | Father Daughter Relationship

Awards:

5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Loren Horsley	...	Lily
Jemaine Clement	...	Jarrod
Joel Tobeck	...	Damon
Brian Sergent	...	Jonah
Craig Hall	...	Doug Davis
Rachel House	...	Nancy
Morag Hills	...	Vinny
Bernard Stewart	...	Zane
Taika Cohen	...	Gordon (as Taika Waititi)
David Fane	...	Eric Elisi
Cohen Holloway	...	Mason
Gentiane Lupi	...	Tracy
Chelsie Preston-Crayford	...	Jenny (as Chelsie Preston Crayford)
Adam Gardiner	...	Tony
Jackie van Beek	...	Burger Staff

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexuality, and brief animated violence.

Runtime:

USA:88 min | Germany:93 min (Berlin International Film Festival)

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:M18 | UK:15 (theatrical) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Finland:K-7 | Sweden:11 | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Cuba Mall, Wellington, New Zealand

Company:

New Zealand Film Commission

Trivia:

The script was workshopped at the exclusive Sundance Director's and Screenwriter's Labs.

Quotes:

Lily: Do you want the big fries?
Jarrod: No.
Lily: It's free. I'll give them to you. The big size. Free. You'll save a dollar fifty. Free.
Jarrod: Um, ok.
Lily: Do you want cheese on your burger?
Jarrod: No, thanks.
Lily: It's free, too. I'll give it to you. You'll save sixty cents.
Jarrod: No, thanks.
Lily: Why? It's free cheese.
Jarrod: Can't eat cheese.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Soundtrack:

This is the One

Great offbeat film

Sundance Film Festival Grand Prize nominated film Eagle Vs Shark is a romantic comedy with a twist from New Zealand director Taika Cohen. The film tells the story of two socially awkward misfits; Jarrod(Jemaine Clement), a depressed video game store clerk and Lily(Loren Horsley), a quiet fast food waitress as they fall in love and go to Jarrod's home town where he is planning to get revenge on a high school bully. It is hard not to compare Eagle Vs Shark to US indie hit Napoleon Dynamite as both films' main characters have some similar mannerisms and much of the humour is created from that, however this film has a lot more going for it than the indie success story from Idaho. The character of Jarrod is very well acted and generates a lot of big laughs, but it is the excellent performance from Loren Horsley as Lily that truly makes the film. The audience really cares for her and she is what takes a good comedy film and makes it a great film regardless of genre. Eagle Vs Shark is a very funny, well acted and excellently written film and I would urge anybody to see it if they have the chance.