Simon (1980)

Simon (1980). 1h 37m | PG

“SIMON feels like a mashup of Woody Allen, Stanley Kubrick, and Mel Brooks. It is one of the strangest movies I have ever seen, and this is coming from someone who generally lives on a steady diet of cult oddities.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe whole thing is a satirical send-up of both intellectual snobs, low culture, consumption, and the religious mindset. The comedy is of the absurd variety, which might be too much for some tastes, but I laughed harder than I have in a long time at it. Alan Arkin is hilarious in the lead (his characteru0026#39;s messiah complex is so well-done) and the supporting actors all hit the right notes.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI will say the film is a bit uneven in terms of pacing and biting off more material for satire than it knows what to do with (for example, I wish the TV-addicted cult had more to do). Things drag a little in around the 3/4 point, but not enough to make you sick of the movie. There is an element of drama in the last quarter which feels a bit out of tune with the previous insanity as well.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eStill, this movie was fun. Itu0026#39;s still in my brain. I canu0026#39;t stop thinking about (and laughing at!) it.”