Colin Farrell gained 40 pounds to make him dowdy for his character, a single man checking into a special hotel. He has 45 days to find a new mate or he’ll be turned into the animal of his choosing (guess what he chose?). Yes, this is an alternate world (think Charlie Kaufman) with strict rules and weird procedures. The quiet wit and peculiar circumstances start with compelling imagination. By the 2nd hour, the narrative deteriorates into a slow-moving romance with more meanness and less humor. The actors speak with stilted stiffness and minimal emotion. While the absurdist setup is interesting and the payoff is equally weird, the film loses creative momentum. This must have been interesting for Farrell, but I hope he can lose that gut.
(2 / 5)