“The Clutterbucks” takes place in 2075 El Paso, Texas, following Twyla Clutterbuck and her dysfunctional family, who are trapped under one roof after a new epidemic arrives.
“The Clutterbucks” revolves entirely around dialogue, and it’s all over the place. Writer-director Rich Ronat crafts a futuristic world with flying cars, but also exaggerated characters and absurd scenarios. Primarily taking place inside one house, the entirety of the film is spent listening to conversations between the Clutterbuck family. They’re dysfunctional, which is the jumping point for all the movie’s events.
Ronat doesn’t hold back, immediately letting the audience know what they’re in store for. This comes from a short-and-sweet blurb of narration that will have you either laughing or cringing within the opening seconds.
While it’s clear that “The Clutterbucks” is about Twyla’s desired control over her family, the film often feels aimless. Constant exposition provides backstory, with Life Garland’s editing inserting countless flashbacks and side stories as well. Cutting back and forth between an endless string of strange situations, there’s not much of an emotional core to buy into. An attempt is there, but the bizarreness typically outweighs the earnestness — for a while, at least.
The best word to describe the comedy is overwhelming. Ronat throws everything but the kitchen sink onscreen in the hopes that something will stick. A lot lands, but just as much doesn’t.
What “The Clutterbucks” does get right is the social commentary. Despite taking place almost 50 years in the future, it’s clearly a parody of modern times. A new epidemic? COVID-19. Scarlet views and Cobalt ideals? Republicans and Democrats. Inside these broad thematics is dialogue surrounding borders, cannabis, abortion and more. The film may be heightened, but it very much mirrors the reality of many families during this time of widespread political divide. Even when all of the pieces aren’t fitting together, this chaotic approach keeps the narrative engaging.
The visuals in “The Clutterbucks” aren’t glamorous. The outside world may feature dystopian sci-fi elements, but the inside of the Clutterbucks’ home is mundane. Director of photography Pascal Combes-Knoke adds movement through pans and rolls alongside handheld tracking camerawork to exemplify their disoriented state. At times, shots are framed to keep the entire family within view. At others, the camera tightens in on characters’ faces to emphasize their tense states. The score from Dana Niu is also integral. The actors themselves bring plenty of gravitas, but Niu’s compositions (on top of music by The Dead South and Agnostic Front) are a necessary addition to give scenes momentum.
While Laura Vale (Twyla) is often in the spotlight, it’s Kayla Raelle (Madison) who steals the show. Raelle plays an individual who isn’t afraid to voice her opinion, delivering a true sense of anger and pain through her words. The most memorable scene of the movie comes in her anarchic outburst just before the final act begins. Vale is easily hateable, with constant judgment and “pushy” line delivery. Nonetheless, she remains charismatic with a mischievous presence that generates laughs rather than groans. Also appearing are Brit Scott (Billy), Brian Gross (Rufus), Jacy King (Christina), Bixby Baker (Adalynn) and Kyle Dunnigan (voice of Mr. Fuzzywinkle).
The final moments of “The Clutterbucks” illustrate everything right with the movie. It’s over-the-top hectic with just a little bit of heart. The conclusion may wrap up too quickly, but the 90-minute runtime doesn’t overstay its welcome.
“The Clutterbucks” is a contemporary tale set in a futuristic world. The incessant dramatics are sometimes ad nauseam, yet the entertainment never dwindles.
Rating: 3 out of 5
