The thing that everyone will tell you about Catfish is that you should know as little about the film as possible going into it. But in practice, that’s just not realistic. How could you possibly want to go see a movie without knowing what it is about? The very set up of the marketing campaign means that, of course, someone is going to wind up telling you more of the story than you wanted. So, although this review prides itself on revealing just enough, all of you obsessive types have been SPOILER ALERTED.
The thing that everyone will tell you about Catfish is that you should know as little about the film as possible going into it. But in practice, that’s just not realistic. How could you possibly want to go see a movie without knowing what it is about? The very set up of the marketing campaign means that, of course, someone is going to wind up telling you more of the story than you wanted. So, although this review prides itself on revealing just enough, all of you obsessive types have been SPOILER ALERTED.{{page_break}}
First and foremost, Catfish is a documentary. It chronicles the life of Yaniv, a twenty-something photographer based out of New York, who becomes pen-pals with Abby, an eight year-old girl in Michigan, after she asks to paint one of his photos. After becoming Facebook friends with all of Abby’s family, Yaniv strikes up an online relationship with Megan, Abby’s older sister. Actually, relationship is not quite the right term; whirlwind romance probably applies better. From there, Yaniv strikes out to find out more about Megan, eventually prompting him to set out on a road trip to meet her at home.
What follows is a documentary experience that plays to the strengths of the format. One of the most impressive aspects of the film is the air of flexibility with which it develops. Since the documentary format is supposed to document what occurs in real life, it feels fitting that the narrative is allowed to flow wherever it may, much as our own real-life experiences do. That’s not to say that the story isn’t constructed; it is. All documentaries, by the mere act of editing, are. But the story is constructed in such a way as to give the feeling that we are following along an organic story as it develops.
Tonally, the film strikes many different chords as the plot develops. And as a part romance, part mystery, part drama, part comedy, Catfish actually holds up pretty well as one cohesive piece. Although the film goes to all of these places, it never stays there for long enough that you are unprepared for the tone to shift once again. It truly is a balancing act, but the filmmakers pull it off quite well.
While, visually, the film may lack the high quality cameras or perfectly composed shots that many documentaries have taken a shine to these days, it has a charm all its own. The lo-fi nature of the entire project gives it a feeling of honesty that many documentaries lack. It feels almost like Catfish is a return to the roots of the format, taking a guerilla, whatever works stance toward capturing the moment.
When it really comes down to it, the only thing that can make or break a film like this is if it has an engaging storyline and a good pay-off. The story does an admirable job of twisting and turning where necessary, and always keeps you engaged in what’s happening. Little time is wasted outside the main plot, which keeps the film appropriately focused on the mystery at hand. As for the pay-off, it depends on your sensibilities. Without revealing too much, the last half of the film works rather slowly. Instead of having a huge bombshell drop, the film takes more of a contemplative stance towards its resolution. And, importantly, it asks questions about life and relationships that go beyond the social networking premise of the film.
Catfish is a unique film to say the least. It’s absolutely entertaining and will leave most people feeling satisfied. But exactly how much enjoyment you get from the film will be determined by how sympathetic and real you see the people being documented. You get out of Catfish exactly what you put in. So, my suggestion? Sit back, enjoy the ride, and try and buy into the film as much as possible. Your patience will be greatly rewarded.
Overall Score: 7.90 — Good. (7s are good, but not great. These films often have a stereotypical plot or are great movies that have a few minor flaws. Fans of this movie’s genre might love it, but others will still enjoy seeing it in theaters.)
Catfish is exciting and entertaining. If you can deal with the lo-fi nature and take what you see at face value, you will have a great time. Contrarians and skeptics check your attitude at the door.
