Yoga Hosers — Movie Review
Yoga Hosers debuts actresses Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith as the Colleens who take on an evil presence with the eccentric Guy LaPointe played by Johnny Depp. From it’s start you can tell this is a passion project made in the realm of teenage youth. Join me as I explore Writer-Director Kevin Smith’s latest.
For an overall rating scroll down below.
Support this channel by Subscribing for more
Yoga Hosers, Critics, and Kevin Smith — Spoiler Review
Yoga Hosers debuts actresses Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith as the Colleens who take on an evil presence with the eccentric Guy LaPointe played by Johnny Depp. From it’s start you can tell this is a passion project made in the realm of teenage youth. The emoji filled intro credit sequence pulses with energy letting the audience know the stark difference in tone between this and Writer-Director Kevin Smith’s previous endeavor, set in the same world, Tusk — and all his other films for that matter.
Perhaps it is easier to begin with the more negative criticisms posed against the film. Smith, who is very aware of the type of reception he gets from critics and limited financial success, has previously clarified during the press tour that this is a “kids film”. This world is very much in the style of Clueless (1995), and lets say Puppet Master (1989), in that the story is a combination of contemporary slang and comedy-horror that will likely feel passe even at the moment. With that in mind there is a silver lining. Smith regulars like Jason Mewes and Ralph Garman return adding a familiar flare for dedicated fans. The dialogue follows a well developed rhythm, and it’s fun to watch the genuine on-screen chemistry between real life friends Smith and Depp. Generally the gags hit at nearly every level, whether it’s cringe worthy or hilarious, the film signals to the audience that it’s okay to have fun with penis and period jokes. The quite literal profile inserts, filled with hashtags and acronyms of the like follows most adults, adds to the tone of the film. Simply put, it’s not meant to be taken seriously, which helps considering what happens as the film’s story gets underway.
The plots twist and turns however has a problem of its own. It’s here audiences will become divided. You have a villain that gets inspired by Nazi’s to take over the world because art critics were mean to him which forces him to freeze himself only to wake up in a future where the Allies won, so he must continue building a creature that’s made from victims bodies recovered from his “Under cooked” bratwurst sausage minions to get back at them? Got it. I’m on board. Just go with it. The manner in which Smith does this however is where there is genuine consensus, that is, the material is so silly and self referential it creates a distancing to the material. You might even begin to sigh at the ludicrousness of it all, but that can happen with any meta film. In fact, Smith takes into account the negative reception he normally gets and has built in a response through the plot itself.
There is a difference between when a film acknowledges other movies and one that openly pontificates against the very critics that seem to enjoy defacing Smith’s filmography. Yoga Hosers, to those that follow Smith’s career closely, can be seen as an open letter to critics that shows on film how he is actually affected by the negative reviews of his material — the response is a mix of humor and indifference. It’s not about convenience store clerks. The audience and Smith are beyond that now. It’s about telling stories with his friends and family. It always has been. If there are people out there that enjoy it, have at it. If not, so what? To suggest that watching one of his films in particular should cause you to mutilate yourself is a gross exaggeration that calls to question what movie they were watching. Let’s take Dogma (1999) by Smith for example. While some audiences and critics saw the Second Coming, others had fun with a rubber poop monster. It’s supposed to be fun. If you don’t like it that’s okay too.
You don’t have to like his films, and to aggressively criticize Smith’s character is an entirely different kind of film review. Even with all the incredibly obvious special effects, convoluted motivations, and slang that take you out of the experience — it not that bad. It’s a kids movie with scatological humor and references to other films. Go in with an open mind and you’ll have a laugh.
Overall: Go in with an open mind and you’ll have a laugh.
Yoga Hosers. Dir. Kevin Smith. Perf. Lily-Rose Depp, Harley Quinn Smith, Johnny Depp. Abbolita Productions, 2016. Film.
