cee_dill I don't frequently repeat movies, but I've found that this is one that I can watch more than once and still experience the same highs and lows that I did the first time.You get to watch two stories in this enjoyable little offering, the actual story of Lily and Jarrod and a charming animated movie that reflects what's happening.It's a bit jarring when you first see it. As a movie-goer you're accustomed to standard-issue attractive faces and bodies, spunky heroines and their boyishly charming love interests. By contrast, quiet, ground-down Lily and Jarrod with his complete lack of self-awareness take some getting used to, but they are not without things to like about them. And watching Lily blossom and grow more confident, not because of Jarrod, but because she's learning to like herself, is wonderfully inspiring.A difficult movie to start, but an easy movie to love, a little awkward, but able to be settled into quickly. Like the characters themselves, if you give it a chance, you're almost guaranteed to love it.

tieman64 "You sucka, you better watch out you fool. Yay fool. Hey fool. Sucka. You sucka. You foolish sucka. Better watch out. This is the piper, and I want to be pied...paid. Sucka." - Jarrod."I'm so complex!" - Jarrod Taika Waititi directs "Eagle vs Shark". The plot? Jemaine Clement plays Jarrod, a bullied, belittled and battered video game geek who's preoccupied with proving his worth. As he suffers from feelings of inadequacy, Jarrod relies on a variety of bizarre coping mechanisms, some of which involve him holding video game contests so that he may destroy his opponents and boost his ego.Into Jarrod's life steps Lily, played by Loren Horsle. Lily loves Jarrod unconditionally, sees in the guy something no one else does, but Jarrod's too blind to realise this. For much of the film he's oblivious to the doe-eyed girl attached to his side.The film's a comedy, but will only appeal to fans of subtle, weird humour, where bizarre intonations, inflections and mannerisms are lovingly rolled out. "Eagle vs Shark's" style, in which amplified oddness meets low-key comedy, is strongly resemblant of Jared Hess' films, one of which also starred Clement ("Gentlemen Broncos"). Beyond this, actress Loren Horsley – acting primarily with her big eyes and come-hither looks – does good work. The rest of the cast are an assortment of oddballs, goofs and weirdos.8.5/10 - "Napoleon Dynamite" meets Sigmund Freud. Worth two viewings.

itamarscomix This outsider's rom-com from New Zealand almost manages the lovable quirkiness of Punch-Drunk Love or Harold and Maude, though it doesn't have as much feeling and character development, and the statement it delivers isn't any stronger than the rather obvious "social misfits get together" one. But it doesn't reek of effort like contemporary American examples such as 500 Days of Summers do, and it feels genuinely heart-felt and sweet, mostly thanks to the two fantastic leads - Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords is of course the only reason I even watched it in the first place, but Loren Horsley completely steals the show from him, making for a truly convincing misfit character that the viewer really roots for.

nick.johnson Both are unconventional love stories where two offbeat misfits meet at a costume party. In "Mozart and the Whale" we are told that both characters have Asperger's syndrome (a mild form of autism), but it wouldn't be surprising to learn that one or both of the leads in this movie have had a similar diagnosis.Both movies do a great job of showing realistic portrayals of people with less-than-perfect social skills without making fun of them. It's refreshing to see characters like these depicted not as stereotypes, but as real people worthy of being the center of the story.Having seen several episodes of "Flight of the Conchords" I was almost surprised that "Eagle vs. Shark" wasn't written by Jemaine Clement, as it has a similar quirky and subtle comedic style. This was actually co-written by the director (Taika Waititi) and the actress who played Lily (Loren Horsley).