‘American Fiction’ Review: A joke gone wrong, satire done right
By Eduardo Meza-Roquebert
Have you ever gone to a bookstore and noticed only one novel on display? Shelves and shelves of books, but only one cover to be seen. One must imagine the culprit as a megafan, telling other patrons “Hey! Read this book please!!” Now, imagine doing this with your own work, not to get the word out, but because your work has been miscategorized due to the color of your skin. Thelonious — or “Monk” — Ellison, main character of dramedy satire “American Fiction” doesn’t have to.
Based on the novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett, “American Fiction” follows struggling author Monk, played by Jeffery Wright, as he returns to his hometown of Boston shortly after being placed on temporary leave from his job as a professor. After attending a panel for a fellow author’s new book, “We’s Lives in Da Ghetto,” Monk decides to write a new novel purposely riddled with stereotypes and cliches, his attempt to mock the literary world for their expectations of Black writers, titled “My Pafology.” Written under the pen name Stagg R. Leigh, Monk’s joke quickly gets out of hand and leads to a series of absurd and sometimes devastating circumstances.
This is where “American Fiction” excels. Its mix of quick-witted, cringe-inducing humor and genuine, often gut-punching moments gracefully combines into something unique.
Writer and first-time director Cord Jefferson knows exactly when to let a sincere moment linger, while also perfecting the art of a well-timed joke. Though a little harsh at times, not a single moment overstays its welcome, leaving room for the film’s plot (coupled excellently with one of the best scores of the year) to progress without a hitch.
What ties this narrative together are the stellar performances from a star-studded cast.
The complex, even unlikable, Monk wouldn’t have been able to stand his ground as a lead without Wright embodying the role.
Tracee Ellis Ross, playing Monk’s sister, Lisa, acts as a hilarious foil to Wright’s at-times serious demeanor. Sterling K. Brown especially shines as Cliff, Monk’s recently-divorced brother, giving a very nuanced performance of a character that’s so over-the-top.
Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, and John Ortiz, all work together brilliantly to bring life to an already stacked ensemble.
The very idea of an exaggerated novel written under a fake persona and an author’s efforts to mock a society that just can’t seem to get the joke is what draws you in to “American Fiction.” But the story of a man struggling to make connections with his remaining friends and family members, powering through the death of a relative, and figuring out his place in the world is what makes you stay.
Jefferson’s goal here isn’t to leave you laughing out of your seat, though he does succeed in just that. His goal is to tell a heartwarming story, one that highlights the issues of race, censorship, and ignorance plaguing the film and literary worlds today all through a dysfunctional man who wants people to read a real book.
★★★★ (4 stars)
Rated R. Contains sexual references, depictions of violence, and strong language. 117 minutes. Watch in theaters.
