The movie, an 86-minute journey into the thoughts and memories of protagonist Charles Swan (played by the ever-controversial Charlie Sheen), takes us through a fanciful world of vignettes that range from tap numbers to a Portuguese singing duet to a hilarious segment about imported Russian calamari. Some scenes are innovatively beautiful. In one recollection of a fight with his girlfriend Ivanna, the camera follows the car of the arguing couple as they move through a carwash, soap, water and washers punctuating their passion. Swan’s fantastical memory of his relationship with Ivanna, accentuated by picturesque mise-en-scene, is coupled with offbeat dialogue that ranges from biting to precious. “You were nice to the toothbrushes, but you were a bitch to me,” Swan bemoans to Ivanna.
The actors’ performances are unsurprisingly spectacular, as one would expect from the spectacular cast (namely, Charlie Sheen and Bill Murray). Swan’s reckless, self-destructive behavior might often reflect the actor who portrays him, but his eccentricities and genuine (albeit messy) love for Ivanna make it hard not to love him. Indeed, Sheen delivers a touching performance in Coppola’s portrayal of the endless possibilities that abound after a painful breakup. The film offers a vital thought: that life goes on, and yes, it is still sweet.
