WELCOME TO MARWEN – “Doesn’t work as well as it thinks it does”
RATING
DIRECTOR
Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump – 1994)
STARRING
- Steve Carell as Mark Hogancamp
- Leslie Mann as Nicol, Mark's neighbor
- Merritt Wever as Roberta, works at the toy shop where Mark buys the models and toy figurines he uses
- Janelle Monáe as Julie, a friend Mark makes in rehab
SYNOPSIS
Follows the true story of Mark Hogancamp, who struggled with PTSD
When a devastating attack shatters Mark Hogancamp and wipes away all memories, no one expected recovery. Putting together pieces from his old and new life, Mark meticulously creates a wondrous town where he can heal and be heroic. As he builds an astonishing art installation, he draws strength to triumph in the real one.
REVIEW SUMMARY
Welcome To Marwen is a unique viewing experience that doesn’t work as well as it thinks it does. I will admit that the figurine / puppet sequences do look fantastic and are truly a sight to behold. The special effects team does a great job as the story being told in those scenes are bombastic, exciting and rather creatively done. The live action moments on the other hand, well, they are frankly uninteresting in comparison. Maybe that is the point? Either way, the disconnect is just way too jarring. And while the true story in which this is based is no doubt a remarkable one, it's just much more effective in documentary form (see Marwencol for the proof). In the end, Welcome To Marwen is likely a movie that will stay with you… just probably not for the right reasons.
BOX OFFICE TOP 5
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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
$5.4 million
7.5
The Wild Robot
$4.3 million