Miguel Arteta's (STAR MAPS) sophomore directorial effort is the disturbing, heartbreaking, and comic tale of Buck O'Brien, a 27-year-old with a serious case of arrested development. Buck, played by Mike White, who also wrote the screenplay, is a man with the social skills of an 11-year-old, still living in his childhood past surrounded by toys, his favorite candy (Blow Pops), and photos of his one and only friend, Chuck. After his mother's death, Buck writes to Chuck, whom he hasn't seen since they were boys. Chuck, played by director Chris Weitz (AMERICAN PIE), comes to the funeral with his fiancée, Carlyn (Beth Colt), only to discover that Buck has developed an eccentric, intense fixation on him. When Chuck, now called Charlie, makes an offhand invitation for Buck to visit them in L.A., Buck packs up his toys and moves there. He begins stalking the increasingly wary and angry Charlie, a handsome, successful record producer who feels his perfect life threatened by Buck's hints about their past. A funny, discomfiting tale of sexual obsession with a twist, CHUCK & BUCK continually engages and surprises viewers with Buck's frantic, yet oddly sympathetic, quest for love.
(16 votes)
2.
When does a close friend become too close?
From Mike White, the writer of Dead Man On Campus and producer of TV's "Freaks and Geeks," comes a tale of comically twisted obsession. Chuck and Buck are childhood best friends whose lives have taken very different paths. While Chuck moved away and now has a real life, Buck stayed behind and developed a dangerous fixation -- on Chuck's life. The result is a wickedly hilarious story of two guys about to learn that growing up…is the strangest trip of all.
Stars Lupe Ontiveros (As Good As It Gets, Picking Up The Pieces, Selena) and marks the acting debuts of Chris Weitz (writer of Nutty Professor II and Antz, producer of American Pie) and Mike White.
(16 votes)
3.
Despite all Sundance and critical fanfare to the contrary, this intriguing indie hit is hardly an easily digested little winner. Miguel Arteta's film is more than a bit unsettling, and scene after scene plays with intense discomfort. After the death of his mother, strangely juvenile 27-year-old Buck (Mike White) heads off to L.A. with the oblivious, obsessive intent of working his way back into the life of childhood pal Chuck (Chris Weitz), with whom he'd sexually experimented as a boy. Chuck's engaged now, which only serves to increase Buck's determination ("When it's just you and me here, it's like I'm OK," he says. "And all this other stuff makes me feel dead."). Arteta and screenwriter White (who's quite good as Buck) stretch credibility more than once--Buck's troubling emotional state is sketchy, to say the least--and some of their humor is too smirkingly ironic for its own good, but the film's edgy sadness keeps poking at you. Whatever its flaws, there's something compelling here about the fear of growing up and the more unnerving dread of being found out. --Steve Wiecking
(16 votes)
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