Paddleton Movie Review (2019)
A drama about two unlikely best friends navigating the realities of a terminal illness, Paddleton is a slow-burning, quietly beautiful film that uses dry humor and an authentic friendship to tell a story that sneaks up on you emotionally.
If you aren’t familiar with Duplass Brothers Productions, you might be surprised at some of the media they’ve produced. This independent production company, started by Mark and Jay Duplass, has put out films such as Safety Not Guaranteed, The Puffy Chair, The Skeleton Twins, and 7 Days. I love independent films, so I have seen a number of their movies, but I’d never heard of this one until it showed up on one of my streaming services. I’m glad that I get to tell you about it now.
Paddleton is about Michael and his upstairs neighbor Andy, two middle-aged men who have formed a friendship and spend most of their free time together. Most days are the same, as they wave to each other on the way to work, eat pizza at night, watch kung fu movies, and play Paddleton, an outdoor game with paddles and a ball that they made up. When Michael, who has been feeling ill, receives a terminal diagnosis, and eventually tells Andy about it, they both know that their norm will change as they resist for as long as they can.
I really enjoyed this movie. It’s understated with deadpan humor and an effortless vibe. You watch the relationship between these two men, and it’s enough for them. They seem to have no other friends, hate small talk, and are happy doing the same things every day. It is comfortable, and they are both content.
Starring Ray Romano as Andy and Mark Duplass as Michael, Paddleton is only as good as it is because of the chemistry between these two. You feel as if you are a fly on the wall watching two friends spend their time. They don’t need you there, so you just observe. They are natural and effortless in every scene. And both men are excellent, but this is a career-best from Romano in particular.
The humor here is wry and likely both scripted and improvised. I laughed out loud a number of times because the conversations and small scenarios are so relatable. At one point Andy is frustrated with a credit card representative on the phone and asks Michael, “Can I see my email on your email?” He then goes back to the phone and says, “I sent you my pet name about 5 years ago…” I have had these exact conversations with my father and step-mom.
The larger film scenario is bittersweet and unique, though. You begin the movie learning that Michael is dying. He has a terminal diagnosis, and everything from there forward is tinged with that knowledge. I’m genuinely grateful that this film exists because it portrays the fear and melancholy associated with being “the guy” as well as being “the other guy” – the guy whose life is going to end and the one who is expected to carry on afterward.
Paddleton is a unique indie film that starts out as a restrained “every man” movie and quietly develops into something that had me crying. I didn’t know that I was as involved as I was, and I don’t know exactly when it happened, but it most definitely did. This is a heartfelt gem that more people should be talking about.
Runtime: 89 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: TV-MA
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Yes, I did
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Available: Free on Netflix
