Everything's Gone Green

This is a tale of moral corruption that turns wayward in a way that does benefit society. Just before deeming it another whiny, slacker film, Ryan (Paulo Costanzo), gets involved in some identity altering putrefaction. "Everything's Gone Green" introduces us to Ryan, a boy-man asleep on the couch, snuggled up with a sleeping bag while the tv plays an exercise video that seems to be geared toward women. He awakens from his slumber to find that his girlfriend, and her barbarian of a brother are moving him out. His now x-girlfriend explains that her therapist explained that Ryan refuses to "unleash his inner warrior," and she's looking for more from life than Ikea furniture, and weekend trips to auto-malls.

Ryan goes to work, where he undergoes a review by a less-than-pleased supervisor who printed out several acquisitions discovered during their "server maintenance" period. Ryan's gloomy, redundant poetry is telling of his attitude toward his job, and life in general. His supervisor suspends him but gives him the option to come back if he decides to go to therapy, and "they" decide he's okay. As he's cleaning out his office, his mother calls to tell him they've just won 4.3 million dollars, but his father can't find the ticket.

Ryan takes a colorful bike ride to his parents house. Aliens from the "Mars, Texas" shoot have invaded his ride in the most pleasant way possible. He rides through this childlike atmosphere in Vancouver, and it seems that his life is going to work out.

At Ryan's parent's house is where his stodgy, business-first brother Kevin, his recently fired Father, and his somewhat passive Mother are introduced. Ryan calls the Lotto Bureau after the ticket is found and finds out they have a losing ticket, but is offered an interview for a job that recently opened up.

He gets the job at the Lotto Bureau, where he interviews people who have just won big time. An amusing montage of ecstatic people from all walks of life give the film a goofy kitsch quality. A beached whale, a feng shui loving boss, a Chinese-American women; her ritzy, "golf course designer" boyfriend, her grandmother and Mandarin classes are all new parts of Ryan's life; and this when things begin to get strange.

The delusion that money brings happiness is the theme in the film. From Spike to Furry Creek (and eventually Ryan) it seems everyone's motivation is to collect massive fortunes at any cost. But what are they willing to sacrifice? And how many times have we seen this before? But (yes but) what makes this film interesting is that it is taken away from the usual brunts, the stockbroker, the lawyer, the CEO, and puts the responsiblity of the negative affects of capitalism into the hands of regular, everyday people.

Get rich quick schemes, a grow op that Ryan's parents get involved with, and the Japanese mafia all contribute to this mish mash of a story that some how works. Its tagline "A new kind of comedy" is pushing it a bit, but nevertheless, it's way better than the last Canadian Indie film that I saw. It's entertaining, yet seemingly aimless; thus, a successful reflection of slacker life, and not fully predictable. The character arc is one that we can all probably relate to but have seen a few too many times. But still, you should watch it for its artful scenes, strong performances, and witty situations. Plus, it's very well written, as Douglas Coupland is a seasoned novelist, and this is his first stab at a screenplay.