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Indie film shines with intimate view of relationships
By Joe Nguyen
nguyejos@mscd.edu

The Puffy Chair Rated R 85 minutes Opens Aug. 25

For a movie called The Puffy Chair, the big purple recliner doesn’t make much of an appearance.

This low-budget, feature-length, comedic drama, the first from brothers Jay and Mark Duplass, focuses on the lives of three 20-something individuals during a road trip down the East Coast. They experience a wide range of emotions while learning valuable lessons in their journey to deliver a chair. The movie features interesting characters, subtle humor and simple yet effective cinematography.

The charm of The Puffy Chair resides in its characters. Each has a complex personality filled with strengths and weaknesses that become more apparent as the movie progresses. The two focal characters, Josh (Mark Duplass) and Emily (Kathryn Aselton), go between the highs and lows of their relationship in the blink of an eye. One minute they’re cuddling and calling each other “schmoopy,” the next they’re questioning why they’re even in a relationship. Their fragile emotional bonds are constantly severed and reformed.

The cinematography functions like a documentary. The sharp handheld technique gives the film a realistic feel. Tight shots are used to show intimate settings between characters, especially Emily and Josh.

Much of the humor in The Puffy Chair is understated and unexpected. In one scene, Josh tries to save money by renting a motel room for one person instead of paying the extra $10 for three. Rather than informing the other two of his plan, he makes them duck down in the van without any warning as they pass by the main office.

The Puffy Chair plays to its strengths, relying on rich storytelling and strong characters. It’s the story of their journey that makes the movie. The chair only gives them reason to go.