Funny Pages: A Gloriously Grimy, Riotously Irreverent Coming-Of-Age Romp
A teenage cartoonist rejects the comforts of his suburban life and leaves home, finding an unwilling teacher and unwitting friend in Wallace, a former low-level comic artist.
Torn from its namesake, Owen Kline’s Funny Pages is a comic picture in more than one sense. Clocking in at just shy of 90 minutes, the film briskly rolls up the underground antics of R. Crumb, Peter Bagge, and Daniel Clowes into a memorable coming-of-age romp that takes you places — some of which you might wish it hadn’t. Kline’s debut is as crudely drawn as its characters’ illustrations, but he manages to turn its rough edges into an affably awkward, delightfully dingy, and downright hilarious journey that marks one of the funniest — and grossest — films of the year. It’s a gloriously grimy and riotously irreverent happening that chaotically swerves into some pretty strange and unexpectedly icky places, but underneath the layers of smut, sweat, and stink (of which there is much), you’ll find a beating heart, sincere soul, and aching authenticity.
This sloven and scruffy coming-of-age gem is cut from the ribs of early Safdie Bros and Ronald Bronstein efforts like Daddy Longlegs and Frownland, which isn’t too surprising considering they all served as producers. You’ll find glimmers of their chaotic spirit and jaunty charge throughout Funny Pages, a feeling which is bolstered by the inclusion of many of their frequent collaborators, both in front of and behind the lens, like cinematographer Sean Price Williams, and actors Buddy Duress and Mitchell Wenig. Williams is a cinematographer that’s not afraid of getting up close and personal, and he often captures the film’s many interestingly odd faces in close-up — bad skin and all — on super 16mm film, which gives Funny Pages a gritty texture that perfectly fits its subject matter and ethos. The choice to shoot on film also gives the film an oldschool 70s feel mixed with the raw spunk of 90s indie cinema, both of which play into the film’s sense of nostalgia.
Kline, who’s the son of actors Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates and who many may remember as Frank Berkman from Noah Baumbach’s The Squid and the Whale, spent six years developing the film, and there’s some autobiographical aspects woven into the film’s grainy tapestry. Like the film’s protagonist, Robert, Kline is also a cartoonist and would often befriend older weirdos as a youth growing up in NYC. He even released a one-shot comic book called Whippers & Snappers in 2011 that featured an early version of Funny Pages’ characters in a story titled "Robert in the Boiler Room." Like an illustrator, Kline takes things panel by panel, and while Funny Pages certainly won’t be for everyone (particularly the squeamish), its long-winded gestestation and development was well worth the time and effort.
It’s a film that’s not concerned with trying to revolutionize the tried-and-true coming-of-age format. Instead, it focuses on how it can subvert our expectations to pack in as many laugh-out-loud surprises as possible. It communicates this to us early on in its opening scene, which involves a high school art teacher, Mr. Katano, giving Robert, a student, portfolio advice before goading him into sketching him nude. And if you think that’s shocking, just wait until you see what happens next! The film kicks off with a roaring crash, and gradually develops into a wacky and one-sided relationship between Robert and Wallace, an ex-color separator for Image comics, which somewhat speaks to Robert’s career aspirations.
The film is centered entirely around Robert’s desire to be a published cartoonist. There’s an air of Rushmore’s Max Fischer to Robert’s character, a sense of confidence in his abilities and that he knows more than he really knows. Unlike Max, Robert has no desire to stay in school to foster his creativity. After the incident with Mr. Katano, Robert promptly drops out of high school against his parents wishes and attempts to make it on his own, a futile gesture his parents nonchalantly label as “brat shit.” Robert’s departure from education takes him on a strange detour full of colorful characters and places, like a very musty and sweaty basement apartment, but what really sets this outsider coming-of-age odyssey apart from others is where it winds up taking him.
So many films within the subgenre are laced with happy endings and false positivity, but Funny Pages is one that actually exclaims: “You don’t just get to be an artist!” It’s a tough thing for a young person filled with ambition and dreams to hear, but it’s an honest and commendable sentiment, one that’s frankly not said enough in cinema. We don’t just get to be what we want, not without hard work, struggle, and a lot of luck, anyway… Seeing Robert chew over that notion following the film’s hilariously bombastic climax is one of its many rewarding treasures.
Birthed out of subversion and culminating in Christmas Day chaos, Funny Pages blends seediness and silliness into a satisfyingly strange, darkly comedic coming-of-age brew. With a focus on soul over form, the film is less bothered by where it takes you and more interested in how it gets you there and what it makes you feel — whether that’s engrossed or just downright grossed out. Its journey is certainly a memorable one, with its self-reflective final moments giving viewers something worthwhile to chew over as the credits roll. As much as it is a “uncut gem” of the Safdie variety, Funny Pages presents Kline as an interesting new outsider voice within the realm of indie cinema, and we’ll be looking forward to see what sort of hilarious madness he whips up next.
Recommendation: If you’re looking for an oddball comedy with big laughs, seedy surprises, and a lot soul, look no further than Funny Pages! We think it’s one of the year’s most entertaining comedies, and it’s definitely worth seeking out.
Looking for more page-turning fun?! Check out the links below:
Eighth Grade review
Uncut Gems review
Her Smell review
Good Time review
Good Time drinking game
What do you think? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!