The Puffy Chair is a classic example of a movie-making “shiny thing,” as you think you’re supposed to be focusing on one area, but it’s everything else around that truly matters. An excellent character study that you never expect.
I am a huge fan of indie films. I love when something of quality can be produced for very little money and it is still an intriguing piece of art. When this sort of thing happens, it usually means that we’re focusing on characters, so it is more intimate and less flashy. With this little film that was produced for only $15,000, that is definitely the case.
The Puffy Chair is the story of Josh, a slightly lost soul who never made it with his band and is now helping to promote others. He has decided to purchase a chair (much like one he grew up with) for his father’s birthday, but it requires a road trip to go pick it up. Taking his girlfriend, Emily, and later, his brother, Rhett, the three travel from New York to Atlanta, experiencing various quirky moments along the way.
This movie is all about the road trip itself and not the actual chair. The chair looks comfy, like you could fall into its softness and take a nap, but maybe looks are deceiving – and that is similar to this journey.
Josh (played by Mark Duplass) is someone who is confused by and scared of deep talks and commitment (he constantly calls his girlfriend “dude” – as in “friend” – instead of something more loving). He is comfortable with exactly what he is doing (although not happy), and doesn’t want to rock the boat. Emily, who wants more from Josh and her future, nudges Josh to talk about their relationship in a constant push and pull. He doesn’t give much emotionally, so she inquires, sometimes at the most inopportune moments.
Rhett, a man built to see the little things and experience the world intimately, is very different from his brother and has qualities that Emily appreciates. But looks can be deceiving and sometimes, what you think you would like to have is far different when you explore the idea all the way to the end.
I love how this film is about three distinct individuals who have very little in common. I love that this was shot in a shaky-cam style, so it feels as if you’re watching home movies most of the time. I loved learning that, during production, Mark Duplass, his brother (writer/director Jay Duplass), and Mark’s wife, Katie Aselton (before they were married), stayed in her parents house during production to save money. And I love knowing that Mark and Rhett’s parents in the film are Mark’s real parents.
This is a really interesting film and very short at only 84 minutes. When you watch, remember that it is about the journey, not the destination, because the shiny thing will get you every time.
Runtime: 84 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Available: Free on Prime Video or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
I am a huge fan of indie films. I love when something of quality can be produced for very little money and it is still an intriguing piece of art. When this sort of thing happens, it usually means that we’re focusing on characters, so it is more intimate and less flashy. With this little film that was produced for only $15,000, that is definitely the case.
