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Movies / On DVD / Flakes
Flakes

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Flakes (2007)

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Reviews Counted:16

Fresh:4

Rotten:12

Average Rating:4.5/10

Runtime: 84 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: This quirky romantic comedy stars Aaron Stanford (X-MEN 3: THE LAST STAND) as Neal Downs, a struggling musician, and Zooey Deschanel (ELF, ALMOST FAMOUS) as Miss Pussy Katz, his whimsical... This quirky romantic comedy stars Aaron Stanford (X-MEN 3: THE LAST STAND) as Neal Downs, a struggling musician, and Zooey Deschanel (ELF, ALMOST FAMOUS) as Miss Pussy Katz, his whimsical girlfriend and voice of reason. Living in New Orleans' historic French Quarter, Neal and Miss Katz are bound for great things, with his passion for music and her artistic talent, but their fears and slacker attitudes are holding them back. By day Neal works in a corner café, Flakes, that sells only breakfast cereal. He serves up crunchy delights to curmudgeons and stoners alike, and he takes care of the managerial duties for the eccentric owner, Willie, portrayed endearingly by Christopher Lloyd (BACK TO THE FUTURE). Seeing that his day job is getting in the way of his dream, Miss Katz begs Neal to take some time off to finish his CD. Avoiding her request and his music, Neal becomes even more involved with Flakes and its unique clientele as a competing entrepreneur sets up shop across the street in the hopes of cashing in on the niche market. At her wits' end, Miss Katz turns to drastic measures and helps the competition in an attempt to sabotage Flakes and get Neal back to his music. Though all is fair in love and war, will her plan work or only tear them apart? Since he directed the mid-80s cult classic HEATHERS, Michael Lehmann has worked on acclaimed television series such as BIG LOVE, THE WEST WING, and THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW. Though Lehmann has also helmed features such as 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS and THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS, FLAKES feels closer to some of his small-screen work. In less capable hands, the characters in his film might feel average, but the talent of the actors prevails. Stanford, Deschanel, and Lloyd portray their roles with such inspiration and heartfelt dignity that one can't help but root for them. [More]

Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Aaron Stanford, Keir O'Donnell, Ryan Donowho

Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Aaron Stanford, Keir O'Donnell, Ryan Donowho, Frank Wood, Izabella Miko, Christopher Lloyd

Director: Michael Lehmann, Gary Winick

Director: Michael Lehmann
Screenwriter: Chris Poche, Karey Kirkpatrick
Director: Gary Winick
Producer: Jake Abraham, Mark Ross
Composer: Jon Ehrlich, Jason Derlatka
Studio: IFC Films

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Reviews for Flakes

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1 - 17 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
10/18/08
Joe Leydon
Joe Leydon
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The amazing Deschanel once again proves her astonishing ability to exist comfortably within a scene, as well as slightly above it.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
07/17/08
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

A critique of capitalism that's light as a corn flake.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
12/24/07
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

There are a few sweet moments as the story reaches its unsurprising conclusion. But, all in all, Flakes isn't going to bowl you over.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
12/21/07
V.A. Musetto
V.A. Musetto
New York Post

Unless you happen to be one yourself, chances are pretty good that you'll take an immediate dislike to the self-satisfied hipsters who populate this disappointing comedy from Heathers director Michael Lehmann.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
12/21/07
Elizabeth Weitzman
Elizabeth Weitzman
New York Daily News

Minor to the point of barely existing.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
12/21/07
Frank Scheck
Frank Scheck
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There's enough breezy charm on display to make it worth a look on cable, DVD or at a bargain matinee.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
12/20/07
Geoff Berkshire
Geoff Berkshire
Metromix.com

The characters Lehmann and company use as generational mouthpieces bear no relation to any people who have ever existed, and they barely work as parody. It's cool to see the old retro cereals on the restaurant shelf, though.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
12/20/07
Noel Murray
Noel Murray
AV Club

While the ghost of a bittersweet 'everyone's a sell-out' moral seems to haunt screenwriters Chris Poche and Karey Kirkpatrick's scruffy little romantic fable, it's buried under layers of forced quirkiness.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
12/20/07
Maitland McDonagh
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The surprise is how consistently entertaining Flakes is despite the dearth of star power, production value or innovative style.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
12/20/07
Eric Monder
Eric Monder
Film Journal International

A disappointingly superficial enterprise, given its undeservedly smug, countercultural airs.

Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | comment Comment
12/19/07
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
NewsBlaze

A business course on cutthroat capitalism disguised as a slacker comedy: That’s the kindest way to describe Michael Lehmann’s Flakes.

comment Comment
12/19/07
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite a few good one-liners, the dialogue is overwritten.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
12/18/07
Julia Wallace
Julia Wallace
Village Voice

This too-cool-for-school Singles wannabe could have been great, but it never really goes anywhere due to its poor execution

Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net | comment Comment
12/18/07
Edward Douglas
Edward Douglas
ComingSoon.net

One look at Aaron Stanford's chain-smoking, long-haired musician in a Hanes t-shirt and you know Flakes wants so badly to be hip.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
12/17/07
Paul Schrodt
Paul Schrodt
Slant Magazine

Some cute moments pepper the inane plot, but Flakes doesn’t have much snap, crackle or pop.

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
12/13/07
Drew Toal
Drew Toal
Time Out New York

I hate to be so down on a comedy that comes from so many filmmakers and actors I admire, but this flick's about as satisfying as a bowl of soggy Corn Flakes.

Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
03/20/07
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
Cinematical
 
 
1 - 17 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Flakes

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