Eagle vs Shark

Eagle vs Shark, a small amusing import from New Zealand, is something special to savor, a hilarious romantic comedy that defies description. In a summer full of endless sequels, this truly inventive and totally wacky tale of love among the nerds is a rare original and a real find. The title refers to the goofy outfits this mismatched pair wears at a come-as-your-favorite-animal costume party where a deadpan nerd (Jemaine Clement) hooks up with a quirky young hamburger waitress (Loren Horsley) after he becomes impressed with her video-game-playing skills. Although she lets him win, she clearly is the superior player in the intense contest that becomes the centerpiece of the party. What follows is not a whole lot really, just a nice developing relationship that is different, to say the least. Watching these two societal outcasts trying to come together in their own unconventional world is a real tonic for those bored by standard Hollywood romantic comedy. This light-as-air Kiwi version presents us with two individuals who seem afraid to get emotionally attached and disrupt the comfort levels their innate shyness has created for them. Even in an offbeat tale like this, complications ensue but don't really matter. It's the unique way these people behave that has us hooked right from the beginning to its low-key but satisfying conclusion.