The End Of Oak Street

 

This review may contain spoilers!

The End of Oak Street is a science-fiction thriller about an American 1980s neighbourhood suddenly being teleported 200 million years in the past. Now the American suburbs are going to have to contend with surviving dinosaurs.

I found End of Oak Street to be such a hilariously nonsensical film. This is the sort of movie that has a nutty premise and just does not know whether to play it straight or be in on its own absurdity. Across the film, there are so many moments where I found myself laughing at the film, and rarely any moments where I felt like I was laughing with it. Why does the local librarian know so much off the cuff about 200 million year old flora? Why does the film try to genuinely make a polaroid photo of Ewan McGregor standing in front of two dinosaurs having sex an emotional plot device? Why did the asshole neighbour get out on his roof to shoot at pteranodons? It's a movie that starts because vague solar flares have been happening, so of course they lead to prime American real estate being displaced through time. But don't fear, there are smaller time bubbles for our characters to throw themselves through and find their happy ending. It's a film that is quite comfortable with playing things on the nose; as dinosaurs start swarming the streets, we get an oblivious family climbing into a car whilst singing the Flintstones theme song.

Yet, there is an incredible sense of thrill to this feature at times. Those moments where the parents stalk through the early morning hours of the neighbourhood and we're greeted with glimpses of dinosaurs. Before finally having Ewan McGregor run for his life from a raptor with a baseball bat as his primary means of defence. There is a lethality to the dinosaurs, even if those moments come in drips and drabs. I do think a lot of this film would have worked more if it let itself be scarier. The scene in the librarian's house where the family becomes trapped is an excellent example of the sort of scenes that have you right on the edge of your seat. Even the moments of characters slowly walking about at night, trying to survive, have a good atmosphere to them, even if the scenes peppered throughout can be utterly hilarious.

This is a film that really dwarfs two fine actors in lead roles. I thought the little stereotypical American family who seem dysfunctional wears pretty thin. Ewan McGregor plays his part well, if not a little comically at times, as the loser Dad who's just trying his best. I actually had a lot of fun with PJ Byrne as Mel, the asshole neighbour who doesn't like the lead family very much. There are also some minor characters that are more puzzling than anything. Anne Gee Byrd as Denise's neighbour/debut novel editor is rather forgettable. While Jordan Alexa Davis' Jeanette character doesn't add anything of substance to the film. The two siblings often feel very offbeat; Christian Convery's role is a bit too pathetic for his own good, and Maisy Stella's closeted big sister doesn't feel entirely actualised. But it's Anne Hathaway as Denise who really shines in this film. She has a real intense streak that marks her as a natural survivor, while also finding the points she needs to appear more grounded as a suburban Mum. 

The special effects design for the dinosaurs is excellent; those were creatures that felt dangerous and looked a little bit distinct from other Jurassic-style films. But I was often finding myself disappointed with how this film was shot. There's a hideous scene in the second storey of the house where there's an intense close-up on a family member's face for half the screen for almost the entire scene. It's one glaring example amidst many poor shots across the feature. I also felt like the soundtrack could have been pondered on a bit more; watching Audrey tearfully sing 'Valerie' in the car did not have the effect the film was shooting for.

This is a film that often feels like a spoof of itself. I would give The End of Oak Street a 3.5/10.