The bright-eyed German YouTube DJ came to ‘Buddymoon’ with a relentless energy honed from capturing the attention of an ever-changing social media audience. Unlike the typical audience member, I was already familiar with his previous work and was rooting for Flula Borg when I saw him in the Pitch Perfect 2 trailer. His clipped English and brash YouTube DJ persona had my respect long before, but still, the industry previously struck him as an astonishing blockbuster feature. As much as I enjoy his eccentric personality, Buddymoon is a collaboration driven by taste. I understand that some will be infuriated the sad reality is not everyone appreciates Flula’s unique style. This film was shot quickly in ten days while surrounded by friends. Relax, it’s not built to change the world.
Buddymoon centers on real life best friends David Giuntoli and Flula as they play, well, heightened versions of themselves. Flu la transfers his larger-than-life YouTube character to film while David exploits his former fame as a child actor into a currently running success on Grimm.
Movie David had high hopes as a wedding and a role in a film adaptation of Lewis and Clark were on the horizon. Life was better, and he thought it would only get better, but things quickly changed. In time, Frankie calls off the wedding. David sinks deep into depression, so Flula gets in character to cheer him up. He finds out David was supposed to go on a romantic hike in Oregon, but the hike was canceled, so Flula suggests that they do it together. David needs to be taken out of the reality that the wedding is off, so Flula plans on keeping him compelled with other things. They plan on going into the wilderness to drink, cut loose, act like fools, and record more sounds for Flula’s end credits opus. This trip will make or break their friendship and give them new experiences. ‘We are Honey Buddies for life’ they say.
Before watching, you probably already know whether or not you are going to find the movie funny based on the synopsis. If you don’t think you will be able to enjoy the lack of plot, Buddymoon is likely going to disappoint you. The same goes for Flula, David, and Alex Simmons. They likely knew they would never get paid for coming up with an entire movie plot because the whole thing was based on an unnaturally colorful outline and filmed in Oregon with natural sunlight as their only light source. It was only ever going to be possible for an independent production company to set out and film this type of movie as it was chaotic and carefree. No holds barred. Pure chaotic fun.
It’s a mix of both comical and perplexing seeing David hopelessly trying to surpass his memories of Frankie just to get cut off by Simmons while Flula is predictably noticing his pain. I for one am not going to sugarcoat my initial impressions. Seeing Flula’s encounter with Simmons face-off made me laugh, but I cannot deny that I was gazing at the sky perplexed. As obnoxiously funny as it may get, the German seems to laugh to surely make his friend flounder. His self-doubting ticks of over-expressive speech blended with an astounding ability to create faux language misunderstandings make it seem as though the man has superhero-like comedic skills. It is baffling how flawless his timing is. Giuntoli plays the role of this lunatic’s necessary counterpart in what seems like an uncomplicated mannerable, but when he lets out that annoyed sigh you wonder how it is possible that did not take place earlier.
The two are perfect together, and a few cameo appearances from Brian T. Finney as a suspicious ‘shroom cultivator and Claire Coffee as David’s dream girl, who does not immediately recognize him as the show he is on that drives him crazy Polly, are well done and go along with the tone Simmons sets. It is contrasted with Giuntoli’s narration, which reads the diary of William Clark. Each passage is selected to match what is happening onscreen and is read in a scholarly voice. Hearing that voice say “Meriwether Lewis was collecting samples for science, while Flula is thrusting his head into a tree next to a boom mic that literally becomes a part of his arm, is just phenomenal. Buddymoon, unfortunately, is dangerously thin outside the range of nonsensical ad-libs and surreal tangents, so instead of a fan cult classic, it is a peculiar relic.
It’s super tricky to nail down a definition for their unique brand of comedy, because at the end of the day, the whole of it is greater than the sum of its parts, and that is truly what comedy is Giuntoli and Simmons do great work on their end of the film to make it a comedy worth watching, but their talents are largely wasted on Flula, who’s outrageousness practically dwarfs them. Fulfilling premonitions with an interest in the DJ will have the time of their lives and those who come across it with the right taste will be blown away and immediately search for more content. As for the rest of the audience, Buddymoon will likely be an additional eighty minutes they will not reclaim. It’s alright. I know. There are a lot of films that put me in this mindset and my world wasn’t really ready for those. And much like my friends who enjoy these terrible movies, they are certainly going to feel sorry for me, while I on the other hand pity those who Flula does nothing.
To watch more movies visit Fmovies
Also Watch for more movies like:
