Haiku Tunnel

Ok, you know how you're walking through blockbuster and you make up your short list of movies to rent and then pick the top two or so? Well, Haiku Tunnel has always been on the list, but it's never really gotten above a seven. Now, as a newly married person, it behooves me to provide my family of two with an entertaining movie night. Needless to say, I didn't think it wise to foist Leprechaun 4: In Space upon my blushing bride so early into our nuptial bliss. My eyes lit upon Haiku Tunnel and I found its lack of robots, leprechauns and lasers appealing, right along with the promise of funny- right on the box! The director quite literally tells us the story of himself, Josh Kornbluth, a professional temp in the ever-so-slightly fictional city of San FrancLisco, California. When hardworking Josh is offered the chance to go 'perm' for his lawfirm (Yes, it's called 'S & M Attorneys at law'. Yes, there's an obligatory leather joke. Can we continue now?) he leaves his role of isolated outsider behind and quickly spirals downward into a neurotic, work-avoiding, panic-stricken, and altogether entertaining mess. To say that Haiku Tunnel is an Office Space clone and to leave it at that is really a cop-out. Although it bears some resemblance to that oft-quoted cult favorite, I think H.T. is really a different animal. To me, it really came across more like a play than anything else. Nothing as drastic as Dogville or Our Town, mind you, but there was definately a small set of re-occuring sets, some great charicatures, frequent trips from the director past the fourth wall and a refreshing adherance to the plot that was a welcome relief from gag-ridden celebrity vehicles like Dodgeball. All in all, definately worth the two bucks, always good for a laugh and sent you back to thinking about that assignment that you never quite completed because you always knew that finishing it would just leave you empty inside.