4/5 Too Big to Swallow Whole
  by Chris Pandolfi (Los Angeles, CA)
"Choke" is so bizarre that I really don't know what to make of it. It's a fascinating film, but its eccentricities are at times so overplayed that it felt like they were being drilled into my head. The very concept doesn't sit that well with me. It tells the story of a sex addict who cons rich people out of their money by pretending to choke in upscale restaurants. He does this, you see, because he has hospital bills to pay, all of which go towards the care of his mentally ill mother. Basically, "Choke" is a strange film about really strange people. That may be part of the film's appeal, I guess, as is the fact that, in a demented sort of way, it's actually very funny, although I'd be lying if I said that I completely understood the sense of humor. This adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's novel has a charm about it that's oddly disturbing, which is to say that not all audiences are going to respond to it.

"Choke" begins in much the same way as another Palahniuk adaptation, "Fight Club": the main character/narrator, Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell), is introduced at a twelve-step meeting with other sex addicts (one of which is played by Joel Grey). And much like Edward Norton's character, Victor doesn't go for the therapy--he goes to meet women, and he spends quite a bit of time with the woman he's supposed to be sponsoring. When he's not having sex in dimly lit rooms or at restaurants begging for the Heimlich maneuver, he gets by as an historical tour guide for a Colonial-era theme park. He doesn't get along with his superior, Lord High Charlie (Clark Gregg, the film's writer and director), who always insists on keeping everything as historically accurate as possible. The two cardinal rules: No modern amenities, and absolutely no modern English. Victor works with his best friend, Denny (Brad William Henke), also a sex addict; he eventually falls in love with an exotic dancer named Cherry Daiquiri (it's not her real name).

Victor's sexual escapades aren't limited to his addiction meetings. He has had passionate encounters with virtually every nurse at the mental hospital housing his mother, Ida (Anjelica Houston). She's a surprisingly sad character, and not just because she doesn't recognize her own son when he visits; through a series of flashback sequences (which I won't describe), we discover that she wasn't that good a person. It's likely that years of guilt (and sniffing glue sticks) have contributed to her mental decline, which is probably why she wants to reveal a secret to Victor, one that would explain where he came from. This would mean a lot to Victor, who never knew his father. Unfortunately, since Ida always thinks Victor is someone else, he's no closer to learning the truth. It doesn't help that he can't let go of the past, with years of resentment holding him back.

This brings me to Paige Marshall (Kelly Macdonald), who appears to be Ida's doctor. Victor immediately finds her interesting, mostly because she's the only health care specialist he hasn't slept with. She initially refuses to give into him. She does, however, care deeply Victor's mother, which is why she proposes ... let's just say an interesting method of restoring Ida's mental condition (no need to spoil it for you). Then Victor discovers his mother's old journal, written in Italian. Fortunately, Paige knows the language, so she can translate it for him. Hopefully, it will have the answers Victor is looking for. Paige eventually gives him ... let's just say an interesting explanation for where he came from (no need to spoil this one, either). Needless to say, Victor tries to have sex with Paige. But for the first time, something prevents him from going all the way. Maybe it's because she offers herself in the middle of the hospital's chapel. Could you get aroused with a crucified statue of Jesus staring down at you? Or maybe it's because Victor actually likes Paige and wants to know her as a person.

I told you this was a strange movie. But that doesn't mean I disliked it. The unusual characters and offbeat plot constantly made me wonder where the film would go next, and I have to say that it was a strangely satisfying experience. I won't go so far as to say that I understood it, but I certainly enjoyed trying to figure it out. As for Victor, he isn't as clear-cut a character as you might think. No one ever is. Consider the scene after he answers a personal ad on an adult website; the woman he meets is sexually stimulated by the thought of being raped, so she wants him to wear a stocking over his head and carry a knife. But the experience is a disaster for them both because he doesn't want to follow her rules. Never mind the fact that she actually has rules for a successful rape--the simple fact is that, at that moment, a sex addict is unable to do what he does best. Why? Because he's thinking of Paige? Because he only likes submissive women? Your guess is as good as mine.

Another way "Choke" is similar to "Fight Club" is that it ends with a plot twist that reverses half of what you think you know. As with most plot twists, the plausibility factor will likely undermine the cleverness, which in turn will undermine the message. How I feel about it, I'm still not entirely sure. I can say the same thing about the film in general. "Choke" prides itself on being an oddity, telling a story many won't understand about characters many can't identify with. That being said, I was intrigued all throughout. I found myself involved with the characters, and I wanted to know how the plot would be resolved. I'm recommending this movie, but it's obviously not going to appeal to everyone.

3/5 3 1/2 decent black comedy
  by Patrick A. Kellner (Atlanta)
"Choke" directed by Clark Gregg and base off the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk.

Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell) has been put in the tough spot of having to pay for his mother's (Anjelica Houston) medical expenses. His mother has developed Alzheimer's and must be cared for at all times. The resulting medical expenses are more than Victor's current job at the local Colonial Theme Park can afford. Victor derives an unusual scam in which he frequents upscale dining establishments and makes himself choke on the food. The result being that one of the more well to do clients of the establishment saves him and from that point on feels somewhat parental towards Victor and continues to send money and gifts to him as time goes on. In between trips to the hospital, and working at the theme park Victor is visiting the local program he attends for sex addiction which he is not successful at beating. During one of his visits to his mother in which she thinks he is her lawyer she mentions that she needs to tell Victor more about his real dad. This fuels Victor to try and figure out what she hasn't been telling him and his mother's new Doctor, Paige Marshall (Kelly Macdonald) thinks she may have a way to save her and help him discover what he wants to know...

"Choke" is a decent Black comedy with unique characters and unique situations. This movie is definitely not going to be for everyone as many seem to have a deaf ear for this type of sarcastic humor and the sexual situations may be too much for some as well.

The Good: This was an atypical story which is a nice change from all the formulaic movies that are usually released. The acting all around seemed to be well done and the look of the movie was good. The main character although very troubled was very interesting and makes you interested in where the story is headed.

The Bad: There could have been a few more laughs sprinkled here and there and the movie felt like it ran a little long.

Overall: Not great but not terrible either. If you like black/sarcastic comedy and enjoy the feminine figure this might be for you but catch it on DVD, don't rush to the theatre to see it.


5/5 As much as I'd hoped for...
  by D. Barden (Oregon)
I'm a big fan of Palahniuk, and I was really excited when I first found out that "Choke" was in the works to be a movie. Of course, I wasn't expecting the film to compare to the level of the book, but Choke delivers a good adaptation-- especially in the form of Sam Rockwell as the exceptionally deranged and humorous Victor Mancini. I couldn't picture a better actor to portray his character. Of course, the movie seemed too short, and there were parts missing from the book. All in all, Choke makes a solid transition from page to film, and I was very pleased with the result.

4/5 Choke Movie Review from The Massie Twins
  by thejoelmeister (www.GoneWithTheTwins.com)
An extreme exploration of sexual deviancy, compulsions and abnormalities, Choke is thought-provoking and challenging. It dwells on oddities to make the story unpredictable and spontaneous, instead of presenting eccentricities just for the sake of being weird. This darkly humorous work features outstanding performances by its clever cast, as well as some of the most perversely shocking and hilariously vulgar explanations of self destruction and redemption.

To pay for an expensive hospital room for his mother, who can no longer even recognize her own son, Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell) frequently pretends to choke during meals at expensive restaurants. Planning to be saved by the wealthiest patrons, he then parasitically feeds on their heroism and sympathies for the life they've saved. Conning his rescuers through letters and updates on his life (renewing the "savior experience" as he calls it), he continually receives money to use for his mother.

While not pulling his scam, Victor works at a Colonial Williamsburg theme park (imagine the Renaissance Festival) where he portrays the backbone of America - an Irish indentured servant. Along with his best friend Denny (Brad William Henke) he also finds time to cruise sexual addiction recovery meetings looking for quick action. But when his mother Ida (Angelica Huston) slips deeper into derangement, he seeks out murky truths about his childhood with the help of the mysterious Dr. Paige Marshall (Kelly MacDonald).

As Victor narrates his piteous existence, he's on a fast track to being the most unordinary of misfits; and yet he ends up being our antihero and the least of the insane. In the world of Choke, even the nuns are scum. Although a med-school dropout, a man with few morals and an insatiable lust for meaningless sex, Victor still manages to be a character to hail. Well-placed flashbacks give us insight on his unfavorably anomalistic childhood, as well as the purity and innocence that once existed in our now corrupted paladin.

The narcissism and peculiarities of the characters in Choke account for its uniqueness and its dark, vulgar humor. Although its target audience might be slim, the success of Palahniuk's only other theatrically adapted story Fight Club might boost interests in this original and highly entertaining film. The similarities between the two are limited, aside from the quirky dialogue, deviant subject matter and the frequenting of rehabilitation workshops, but the idea that the most twisted minds can eventually produce sound satisfaction is a testament to these often morbid plotlines.

- Mike Massie


4/5 As off the wall as Fight Club, but not quite as polished
  by Jason (Backwater, Alabama)
When a sex addict purposely asphyxiates himself on oversized portions of food at up-scale restaurants just so he can get sympathy cards, money and gifts from wealthy restaurant patrons so he can pay for his mother's medical bills, then you know you're watching a Chuck Palahniuk movie adaptation. As bizarre as it sounds, there is more to shove into this movie than can be eloquently and succinctly described in a review. And that's part of the problem.

The protagonist/narrator, Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell), has serious issues. In between his trysts and hospital visits, he supplements his charitable income by working in a reenactment of a colonial village where nearly everyone flouts the rules whenever unseen by tourists. The efforts are all for his mother (Anjelica Huston), a woman that continually abandoned him as a child after teaching him unnecessary lessons while foregoing the responsibilities of a parent. A child's love, however, brings him back to his mother time and time again, even in the hospital when she confuses her son for various acquaintances like lawyers and doctors. To muddy the waters even further, he notices Paige Marshall at the hospital, pretty much because she's the only female at the hospital he hasn't bedded. With Paige's help, Victor attempts to learn the identity of his father, cure his addiction, and help his mother.

The details of Palahniuk books are too thoroughly bizarre, the prose too verbose to adequately squeeze down the throat of a two hour movie. It's not that the movie is poorly made; in fact, it's quite entertaining. It's just that there are far too many details removed to accurately translate from book to movie. However, seeing flashbacks of the numerous sexual conquests, as well the Alzheimer encounters with his mother, are the random vignettes that make a Palahniuk story so completely his own gonzo style, and completely enjoyable.

Just like Fight Club, the perverse, backward psychology permeates throughout the dialogue, and despite the illogical nature at times, it often makes sense. I suppose that's the treat of all Palahniuk's works; one must appreciate the bizarre to get to the meat of the story. Highly recommended for the originality, but if you've read the book already, and enjoyed it, you may be disappointed a bit.