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Movie Review: Kooperman

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kooperposterWhen the owner of a struggling comic book store faces eviction, he must snap out of his fantasy world in order to save his reality.

Kooperman is an indie film and the winner of Telefilm Canada’s 2014 Micro-Budget Production Fund, and first feature film for director Harmony Wagner.

Best described as a nerdy bro-mance the film is rough in a way earlier films by directors like Kevin Smith were, with acting that’s ok, and writing that’s more entertaining than anything else. This is absolutely a low-budget indie film in every aspect about it, and that’s not a bad thing. It blends solid visuals with an entertaining and funny plot-line, and a sly commentary on superheroes in today’s age.

Written by Wagner and Jason Rogerson, the story is about Griffin Kooperman is a small town zero, the owner of a struggling comic book store, and he has a paralyzing fear of confrontation. When he faces eviction from his stores premises, he must snap out of his fantasy world in order to save his comic book store, his friendship, himself, and become his own hero in the process.

Played by Dylan Miller, Kooperman is a sad sack of a comic store owner, playing off of so many stereotypes, yet adding his own special touch to it all. The characters Kooperman surrounds himself, as well as the enemies, are exactly that, very much characters that are entertaining in their own way and adding to craziness of it all. The acting is hit and miss with many, but there’s still something very charming about it all, and you can see some growth of the actors in different scenes, as if they were learning as they went along.

The movie’s pretty funny with some moments that had me laughing out loud, and others that had me wincing, particularly a very gross out scatological joke that had me dry heaving. There’s different types of humor for folks, and it’s definitely not a one note joke throughout. And, having worked in a comic shop for quite some time, there’s a lot I could relate to.

And, I will say, the film throws a massive curveball, and has you rethinking a lot of it, at the end, which I did not see coming. This is a film that stays away from a predictable plot.

As a first time film, it’s good, definitely a movie I’d hope and expect to get some play on the geek convention film circuit. Kooperman isn’t polished at all, and like life it doesn’t need to be, it’s a film many of us can see a bit of ourselves in.

Overall rating: 7

Periscope Pictures provided Graphic Policy with a FREE screener of the film

We Talk About Indie Movie Kooperman With Dylan Miller

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kooperposterKooperman is a smart, character-driven comedy bro-mance that blends rich visuals with a driving laugh-out-loud plot-line, while commenting on society’s obsession with superheroes in an age of apathy. Kooperman was shot on beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada, by first time feature director Harmony Wagner. It was written by Harmony Wagner and Jason Rogerson.

Griffin Kooperman is a small town zero, the owner of a struggling comic book store, and he has a paralyzing fear of confrontation. When he faces eviction from his stores premises, he must snap out of his fantasy world in order to save his comic book store, his friendship, himself, and become his own hero in the process.

Graphic Policy sat down with the man who plays Griffin Kooperman, Dylan Miller, to have a brief chat about the movie, and the character he plays.

Graphic Policy: So, Kooperman; what can you tell us about the movie?

Dylan Miller: It’s a story about fear and friendship and funny stuff.  Basically it focuses on the trials and tribulations of an ‘invisible’ person who is disconnected from real life and has his little oasis of personal reality disrupted and is forced into action.

GP: How did you end up involved with the project? At what point did you come on board?

DM: I was approached by Harmony Wagner and Jason Rogerson to talk about a film project they were in the early stages of writing that was based loosely on myself and a friend of mine Taylor Carver and our unique way of interacting with each other and the rest of the world.  Helped out on some tweaks to early scripts and supplied some anecdotes from my real life as a comic book shop owner.  Then they got Taylor and I to appear in a ‘trailer’ that was to be submitted to Telefilm Canada.  After some hard work Harmony and Jason secured some funding from Telefilm and the project jumped into production!

GP: How did the experience of making the movie differ from your stage work?

DM: I had very little experience in acting for film  Or acting for anything really.  Mostly I was comfortable on stage doing Improv comedy and that is an entirely different skill set than acting for film.  Luckily there were some great talents involved in the film and they helped me fell comfortable and nurtured me along.

GP: How personal (or not) was the role for you?

DM: I mean it’s weird. The character is like the worst version of me in some ways.  But in the same token outside the superficial similarities (Comic Store owner, Frisbee enthusiast, jerk) the character is not close to what my real life is.  Which was good and bad.  It forced me to act more than I initially thought I would have to.  At first I thought it wouldn’t be that hard to be a reflection of myself but I found that finding the truth of the character and reacting from his center was difficult.  Once I surrendered myself to the character and stopped fighting with my own real personality I felt like it became real on it’s own terms.

GP: Even though Kooperman is set, in part, within a (pretty fantastic) comic shop the synopsis on the website sounds like the movie will appeal to more than just comic book fans.  I’m guessing that was intentional?

DM: Not unlike comics themselves the trappings are important and fun but at the heart what is interesting is the people.  I think anyone can identify with the feelings of helplessness and invisibility that are part of Kooperman.  We’ve all had ourselves be our own worst enemy.

GP: Any chance of a sequel, or another collaboration with the creators down the road?

DM: I don’t know if there is much more to tell about Griffin Kooperman but if there is interest I’d be willing to grow out my hair and not wash it again…. I guess.  And certainly I would be interested in working on future film projects.  The family that is formed in the crucible of making a movie is a unique experience and has it’s rewards.

GP: How’s the reception been for the movie so far?

DM: Have only really seen it with friends and families of the cast and crew so the reception was very positive!  My Mom thinks I’m cool!!  But I think that it will surprise the audience with the heart and soul that exist under the skin of this fun and funny film.

Kooperman premiers Saturday September 19th during the Atlantic Film Festival.