GUY X

Right from the beginning you suspect something is wrong, but can't quite put your finger on it in GUY X, a subtle black comedy of errors.

It's 1979 - Rudy Spruance (played by Jason Biggs) is unceremoniously dumped on the Qangattarsa US military base in Greenland. Trouble is, he's actually supposed to be in Hawaii. Add to that, everyone thinks he's a decorated responsible officer, not an escapee of a prision sentence. Amongst the ragtag platoon, he finds a friend in Sgt. Irene Teale (played by Natascha McElhone) the only sane soul in the camp for soldier rejects.

The rest of the film is filled with what seem to be hijinks and shenanigans to amuse themselves throughout the days of midnight sun, but at the core, it could've been something more.

Sadly, it stays restricted in its own bubble of existence. And that is perhaps the both the point and weakness of the film. All the characters seemingly wander with no real motivation other than to get through to the next day or delivery.

In contrast to the film Jarhead, released months earlier, there at least seemed to be a semblance of purpose. In GUY X, the purpose is kept secret until Rudy's appointment as the editor of the base's propaganda filled newspaper fuels his curiousity about the secrets found in The Wing. And only then is when we ask the question, why in the world is there a US military base in Greenland?

Of course, there were a few redeeming moments. Watching a grown-up Jason Biggs not screwing a pie is great. It's nice to watch him as the straight man not being influence by the insanity that surrounds him. I was mildly entertained for the hour and half but unfortunately, GUY X is rather a forgettable film, just like how much of its characters want to forget about who they are.

Photo courtesy of Seville Pictures