Placid Lake is of course the name of a satirical horror film from 1999, so the writer of this film was possibly trying to indicate the lead character's life was a modern day horror film, perhaps. Placid is anything but placid as he and his female friend Gemma just don't fit in, as displayed by the opening scene in which they both prefer watching television away from the other high school revelers. Placid is not just bullied like those that do not fit in, but he's raised by extremely idiotic parents stuck in a hippie/new age time warp. Placid's plan to fit in comes about accidentally when he's cornered by the bullies with no escape. He ends up becoming a drone working for an insurance company before realizing he's not cut out to put on a show for society to fit in.
The film tries to be earnest with its message, and the film certainly has its funny moments, especially the student film Placid produces. However, the pacing is slow, even for a ninety minute film, and it never builds to a comic crescendo one might expect. The ending is not that satisfying either as Placid simply returns to his previous unorthodox self with his happy female friend in tow ecstatic to have the old Placid back. Unfortunately, the film builds an all or nothing case with being an individual vs. being a member of society with no room for a happy medium. Someone in his twenties may call it thumbing his nose at the system, but after thirty it's really just becoming a loser. This coming of age film would have been much more enjoyable with a quickened pace, more judicious editing, and perhaps a compromise to its all or nothing perspective. **1/2 of 4 stars.
The film tries to be earnest with its message, and the film certainly has its funny moments, especially the student film Placid produces. However, the pacing is slow, even for a ninety minute film, and it never builds to a comic crescendo one might expect. The ending is not that satisfying either as Placid simply returns to his previous unorthodox self with his happy female friend in tow ecstatic to have the old Placid back. Unfortunately, the film builds an all or nothing case with being an individual vs. being a member of society with no room for a happy medium. Someone in his twenties may call it thumbing his nose at the system, but after thirty it's really just becoming a loser. This coming of age film would have been much more enjoyable with a quickened pace, more judicious editing, and perhaps a compromise to its all or nothing perspective. **1/2 of 4 stars.