Swiss Army Man

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Swiss Army Man Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Slightly unsettling, but ultimately weird and wonderful.

R 2016 95 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 16+

Based on 8 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Swiss Army Man is a very unusual indie dramedy about a man (Paul Dano) stranded on a desert island who befriends a corpse (Daniel Radcliffe, in a decided departure from Harry Potter) and manages to persevere. There's a suicide attempt by hanging, a dead body, a bear attack, broken limbs, some blood, fighting, vomiting, poop, and farting (lots of farting). Characters talk frequently about sex and masturbation, and language is fairly strong in general, with multiple uses of words like "f--k," "s--t," and "retarded." In one scene, the characters get drunk on vodka, with comic repercussions. And, through it all, the movie promotes self-confidence, friendship, and teamwork, albeit in a most uncommon manner.

Community Reviews

Chelibiris
Chelibiris Adult
October 22, 2019
age 15+

Unusual

The way this two unusual characters bond and build a friendship makes this a really good dark comedy for high school kids. Disgusted about farts, poop and corps but this guys show tenderness.
1 person found this helpful.
doctora
doctora Adult
June 4, 2022
age 16+

Captures loneliness in a unique way

Wow...where do you start? The premise is quite off-beat and it just keeps going from there. I mean to begin and end with flatulence, not giving anything away with that statement. It is impressive to see how Dano and Radcliffe connect and animate and encourage each other. This film captures loneliness in a unique way. Although it is comedic there are many aspects of the film that point to a deeper sadness. Ultimately, whose story do you align yourself with? Hank's? Manny's? Or Sarah's? I never knew what was going to happen next and that is a rare thing to say about a film nowadays.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Hank (Paul Dano) is stranded on a deserted island, in total despair, when a body washes up on the beach. Desperate for companionship, Hank tries to revive him, but to no avail; he's dead. But the body's frequent gas emission gives Hank an idea, and he starts to ride it like a motorboat. It brings him to someplace new, a strange woods. Hank, along with the corpse -- whom he names "Manny" (Daniel Radcliffe) -- begins to explore, look for food, and try to find rescue. Meanwhile, Manny starts to speak, and Hank decides to teach him all about life, using trash littered everywhere to make beautiful, illustrative objects. Trouble begins when Manny sees a photo of a girl (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) on Hank's phone and becomes obsessed with finding her.

Is It Any Good?

This is the kind of bizarre, original, risk-taking independent movie that's increasingly rare to find in an era of superhero and action movie franchises. It's weird, amazing, and refreshing. Co-written and co-directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Swiss Army Man is a compendium of strange ideas, beautiful things, some disturbing thoughts, and a touching friendship that can only be found in movies about actual people.

Notwithstanding his amazing performance as Brian Wilson in last year's Love & Mercy, Paul Dano has never been better as a man wrestling with his identity and humanity, finding wonderful humor in every situation. The filmmakers decorate the screen with such astonishing images -- including a bus made of sticks and junk -- that viewers are constantly swept away. On the other hand, the movie's frequent discussions of bodily functions and death, while grounding, are a bit of a turn-off. But that's the only quibble in an otherwise extraordinary movie.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Swiss Army Man's premise. What's the effect of having a dead body as a main character? Is it gross? Scary? Interesting? Does it qualify as violence? Why or why not?

  • How does the movie make you feel overall? Is it a feel-good movie, a disturbing movie, or a combination of both? What made you most uncomfortable? What made you happiest?

  • How does the story demonstrate teamwork? Why is that an important character strength?

  • What's the movie's message about friendship? Can you think of other unusual movie friendships?

  • Is the main character's creativity -- making things from discarded objects -- inspirational? Have you ever made something beautiful out of something no one wanted?

Movie Details

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