I'll be honest. I wasn't sure if this movie was brilliant or just brilliantly stupid at first. But, every couple scenes or so The Art of Self Defense would make me rethink the entire movie.
It is crass and cartoonish in its dialogue and plot. It is subtle and muted in its performances and themes. The combination is outrageous and difficult to acclimate to on first viewing. But once you’ve settled in, it’s easily one of the funniest films of the last decade.
In a homerun casting choice, Jesse Eisenberg plays Casey Davies, a lonely, timid accountant. Casey begins the film feeling fearful, weak, and emasculated by the world around him. More than anything else, he fears other men. His isolation and fear are accentuated when he’s attacked at night by masked assailants.
Seeking to overcome his fear and weakness, Casey joins a karate dojo and begins to devote increasingly more of his time and life into learning (and part-time accounting).
What follows Casey’s devotion to the dojo -- and its charismatic master -- is a darkly comedic exploration of masculinity, its expectations, and its interpretations. These questions are woven into the plot without missing so much as a step of forward momentum. And more than idle musings, the film offers the results of masculine pressure in the form of the changing behavior of its protagonist and the emotional states of Casey and the supporting characters.
It should be said that this movie is a bit of a slow burn, and it becomes more intense and violent as the plot progresses. But it’s a clear recommendation from me for both insight and entertainment value.
Content warning: graphic violence, some sexual content
Plot: 7
Characters: 8
Themes: 10
Spectacle: 7
Overall score: Three-and-a-half kicks to the face.
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