I Heart Huckabees

A pair of existential detectives (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin) attempt to help a neurotic (Jason Schwartzman) find the meaning of life. He's trying to stop a big retail expansion that would destroy some marshland, and locks horns with a sleazy suit (Jude Law) who's working the system for his own benefit under the guise of caring for the environment. An attractive cast is hurdled precipitously into this disjointed philosophical comedy of chaos directed by David O. Russell. Nothing seems to fit, and the film is repetitive and, worse, uninteresting. There are some good performances. Hoffman and Tomlin are perfectly at ease and well cast. Law knows how to play the wickedly handsome corporate type. Schwartzman, on the other hand, grates on the nerves.

I Heart Huckabees is too content to be quirky and eccentric and never finds time to be sustainably funny. Really dreadful at times.

With Mark Wahlberg, Naomi Watts, Isabelle Huppert, Tippi Hedren, Talia Shire, and Jean Smart. 2004.