deadCENTER 2012: Local film gives viewers 'Unusual' experience

Rating: 3/5

"The Unusual Calling of Charlie Christmas" had its world premiere this weekend at deadCENTER Film Festival. Local buzz was hard to ignore and tickets sold out in a matter of minutes.

The story is enough to make people interested. A socially awkward janitor who is tired of bullies decides to suit up and become a local vigilante.

Is it interesting? Absolutely. And so were the people at the premiere. They were decked out with T-shirts, bubbles and the presence of a group that doesn't go to the movie theater very often.

What was so special about this film? It was locally made.

You have to hand it to us Okies. We may not be the most proper people in the world, but we are supportive and we are proud.

The film was, well, unusual. Genre was almost non-existent, which may have been by design. However, it made for an awkward atmosphere. There were parts that were just funny, but it felt inappropriate to laugh because the subject matter was serious.

At one point, Jesus Christ literally hit Charlie in the face and told him not to be a pussy. I was laughing. I’m pretty sure it was supposed to be funny.

There were parts of the film that unmistakably reeked of Napoleon Dynamite. I try not to draw those comparisons, but it was hard not to with this movie. Don’t get me wrong, I love Napoleon Dynamite, but like I said before, this movie was not a comedy. I also wouldn't call it a drama. Or an action flick.

The acting in the film was very good. Kenny Pitts in the role of Charlie was fantastic. It wasn't an easy role to pull off.

Throughout the film I couldn't help but think about how adorable Pitts was. It may have been related to how adorable the boy who played young Charlie, Carson Miller, was. But none the less, all of the leads were very well played.

Besides my issue with the story, my only other critique was that of the festival itself who could not seem to get the technical kinks worked out at Harkins Theatre.

Charlie Christmas stopped when there was what I guess to be less than five minutes left in the movie. This was a problem all weekend. It was either the sound, or the picture.

We should get that fixed for next year.

Overall, the subject matter was interesting, and the acting and technical aspects were well-executed. But there was just something about the story that didn't click.

Mariah Webb is a film sophomore.

Mariah Webb

Mariah is a former staff member of The Oklahoma Daily who worked as Assistant Life & Arts Editor and Life & Arts Editor.