I Married a Strange Person [Import]

What I saw was an ambitious yet clever attempt at exploring storytelling through animation. The plot involves an everyman gets an odd lobe in his neck that increases the imagination section of his brain, causing any thing he thinks of to come true. What better way to bring about the surreal images that follow? Many of the scenes reminded me of Ralph Bakshi's early work, especially perhaps "Streetfight (also known as "Coonskin") - except, of course, those were based on drug highs, while Bill Plympton's work is based on the limits of the imagination - to which there are none. If you want to have grass ride a lawnmower over a human, go ahead! If you want to play with women's breasts like they're balloons, fine!

The only downfall to me was the narrative often tended to drag - so much that I was almost tempted to give this three stars. There are enough highlights through out the film to keep one interested, although one or two times I wondered how long such a story structure could last. However, like I said before, there were enough visuals to keep me interested the whole way out. I also was interested in some of the underlying meanings behind the story - like for example, did any one ever consider the scenario of a company trying to control imagination? In such a time when situations like at Disney where producers are taking over the jobs for which artists were responsible, I find that to be a strong statement.

BTW...I have the stupid Smile Corporation anthem stuck in my head. Oh well..."We are the Smile Corps Corporation! / We bring smiles a-cross the nation!..."

So, for Plympton fans, and any fan of adult animation or underground cinema, this film is highly recommended. Still, to be fair, a few words of caution: 'I Married a Strange Person' is extremely hard-core, with very explicit (though hilarious) scenes of sex and violence. There is, in fact, one (funny and inventive) sex scene that lasts over five minutes. The plot, also, makes very little sense, and the movie often seems to be weirdness and sickness for weirdness' and sickness' sake. If that doesn't bother you, buy it, by all means. If you have a sense of humor and are not easily offended, 'I Married a Strange Person' will be a pleasure. If you're a Plympton fan, don't even think twice - this is one of his best works. If you're not familiar with his work, by all means familiarize yourself.