Buried Under The Radar: 10 Underrated 2016 Movies

It’s easy to be cynical about 2016 at the movies. We moved through the summer like drunken, headless ballerinas. The fall lineup is middling, at best, although I’m not completely giving up. In fact, I’m willing to even go so far as to say that 2016 has been a better year for film than we’re giving it credit for.

Yes, movies that aren’t remakes or sequels were hard to come by. They were still out there. And even in the realm of the so-called “safe bet picture”, you can find some intriguing releases. 2016 still has a few more months to go. It is still a clear indication that the film industry as a whole, even if you just focus on Hollywood, is in bad shape. TV is a few hundred light years away, in terms of storytelling, pacing, versatility, and even performances. I don’t see that trend ending anytime soon.

At the same time, I don’t see film dying. At least, it shouldn’t for a little while longer. While we wait, let’s take a look at 10 underrated 2016 movies. Make a film festival worth attending, or just pick a couple at random.

Either way, you’re in good shape with any of these.

 

1. The Mermaid

It seems strange to call the highest-grossing movie in the history of China “underrated.” Still, this endlessly pleasing, inventive gem from the legendary Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle) doesn’t seem to be quite as popular in North America as it bloody well should be. If you haven’t heard of The Mermaid, you’re missing out on the story of a businessman (Deng Chow) having a venture hopelessly confused by the appearance of a mermaid (Lin Yun), sent by her people to stop the project from obliterating their society. Chow is relentlessly inventive, particularly when working with established genres. The end result here is one of the best romantic comedies of the decade.

 

2. Lazer Team

Despite being infuriatingly uneven, in terms of comedy, pacing, and acting, Lazer Team is just too damn charming to hate. Furthermore, the best parts of this low-budget science fiction film from writer/director Matt Hullum are hysterical. Humor this intense and sincere deserves to be commended, even if the finished product is far from perfect. In the end, Lazer Team will probably win you over with sharp editing, a cute story, and more good performances and jokes than coma-inducing failures. They have my attention for the sequel.

 

3. The Nice Guys

Writer/director Shane Black (Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) is no stranger to noir-fueled buddy comedies. Despite the vast array of influences that move along the sun-battered 1970s Los Angeles highways that set the backdrop, The Nice Guys feels incredibly fresh. Part of that involves the cast, which includes wonderful chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, and the endlessly delightful Angourie Rice as the daughter of Gosling’s character. The other part involves Black being one of the best action film directors working today. It’s fun, and you’re not going to feel stupid for laughing.

 

4. Swiss Army Man

Honestly, I don’t know what in the hell you’re going to make of Swiss Army Man. It’s definitely a comedy, but you may not laugh. Yet at the same time, I can’t imagine you’re going to be disappointed. Playing a corpse with an array of inexplicable powers (his farts are powerful enough that his body can function as a kind of jet ski), Daniel Radcliffe once again proves that he is a far more versatile, interesting actor than he sometimes gets credit for being. Paul Dano is in that same arena. Both actors bring a painful, relatable concept of friendship and loss to their strange pairing. This connection never wavers, and it allows the movie to get away with some pretty silly shit.

 

5. Everybody Wants Some!!

Were you aware that Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Boyhood, Bernie) made a movie this year? No? It’s okay. Apparently, a lot of people didn’t notice either. That’s too bad, since Linklater is one again a master at telling seemingly unremarkable stories in rather remarkable ways. Nothing about the story of a Texas college baseball freshman (Blake Jenner) beginning the next chapter of his life is extraordinary. Yet as we travel across Linklater’s well-known nostalgia for vintage Texas, not to mention his love of baseball, something incredible really does happen. We become absorbed completely by the characters, relationships, and misadventures that come and go over the two-hour running time.

 

6. Green Room

Green Room is painful. Not because the movie is not an inventive, brutal variation on the Assault on Precinct 13 concept. It is. In addition to a harrowing, compulsory story of a punk band being forced to battle Neo-Nazi psychos at a rock venue in the middle of nowhere, Green Room also features one of the most gleefully terrifying performances of Patrick Stewart’s career. No, Green Room is painful for the fact that it was yet another example of just how strong Anton Yelchin could be as a leading man. He will be rightfully remembered for the Star Trek films, but movies like these proved he could be the focal point, as well.

 

7. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

Here’s the thing: If you already hate Andy Samberg/Lonely Island, and nothing is ever going to change your mind, then you can skip ahead to number 8. Everyone else is probably going to have a good time here. The pop star rise/fall/rise story is really only there to give Andy and the gang an excuse to take good-natured shots at the music industry as a whole, and pop music more specifically. It might just be the best comedy about the music business since This Is Spinal Tap. It manages to maintain its momentum, which is never easy for a comedy. While you’re laughing more often than not, try to keep track of the very, very long list of cameos that populate the movie. Popstar failed hard at the box office, and that’s a shame. Samberg in particular is one of the better comedic actors working right now.

 

8. The Lobster

Brace yourself: This comedy about a dystopian society that forces people into relationships, or else they are turned into animals of their choosing is pretty fucking depressing. It’s also one of the smartest, cruelest, most relatable comedies you’ve probably seen in ages. Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz offer performances and chemistry that flawlessly match the dreary, surreal tone of the story. I can also promise you that if you get into the movie, the ending is going to mess you up for a good, long while.

 

9. 10 Cloverfield Lane

As a horror movie, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a worthy, decidedly-different-yet-oddly-familiar follow-up to Cloverfield. Mary Elizabeth Winstead continues to be an underrated actress who is consistently reliable, even in dreck that should otherwise be avoided at all costs (looking at you Thing prequel). It’s also worth noting that this is her second appearance on this list. Still, as good as she is, and as phenomenal 10 Cloverfield Lane is at building legitimate, palpable tension and claustrophobic frenzy, John Goodman is the best reason to make sure you see this soon. As unlikely as it is that he would get an Oscar nomination for something like this, he should. 10 Cloverfield Lane would be okay without Goodman. However, with his unforgettable lunatic performance, the movie is pretty close to a genre masterpiece.

 

10. Kubo and the Two Strings

You’re bitching about a dearth of originality, and then you don’t make it a point to see one of the best animated films of the decade? Alright, man. That’s on you. Nonetheless, you are missing out on a film with wonderful characters, arresting visuals, and a sense of style that provides a stark contrast to Disney, Pixar, or Dreamworks. Laika and Focus Features take a number of measured risks. From a box office standpoint, it hasn’t paid off. From the standpoint of giving those of us who still believe in the potential and power of film, Kubo is an elaborate, breathless wonder.