Thank God for Owen Wilson! His laconic, laid-back comedic approach to character is what saves his new film Paint from being just another run-of-the-mill comedy. Even though Wilson gives it his all as Carl Nargle, a fading local Public Television star in Burlington, Vermont, Paint still feels like a missed opportunity. But luckily, writer-director Brit McAdams has Wilson to hold it together, along with a talented supporting cast, mostly made up of women who deliver the goods. However, it’s not enough to save this largely witless indie film that was shot in just 20 days during the pandemic.
Nargle is inspired by PBS star Bob Ross, complete with a mop of permed hair and a signature pipe. But McAdams paints a different backstory for this small-town PBS star who has always been a local celebrity. Living out of his colorful van and clinging to his past glory, Nargle now faces the reality of changing times when a younger star named Ambrosia (played by Ciara Renee) moves in on his turf. With the station manager delivering bad news, an ex-wife complicating his life, and a frustrated younger girlfriend, Nargle’s world is falling apart before his eyes. Even the promise of reruns turns disastrous when it’s revealed that Nargle was smoking his pipe in all the old episodes, which is now unacceptable. The world has passed him by.
Wilson, with his low-key, deadpan delivery, makes the film watchable. But you can’t help but wish that McAdams had fully realized the satirical tone she was aiming for. It reminded me of an early-70s comedy called Cold Turkey directed by Norman Lear, which cleverly satirized American life without forcing laughs. In Paint, Burlington seems stuck in the past, resistant to change, but the edge and comedy often feel contrived. Too much focus is placed on Nargle’s personal life, when the real story is about a fading celebrity unwilling to adapt to a changing world.
Despite its flaws, it’s always a pleasure to see Owen Wilson on screen, even in a forgettable film like Paint. The fault lies not with the stars, but with the script. Co-stars Wendi McLendon-Covey and Luisa Strus have their moments, but the flashbacks to the younger versions of Nargle and his ex-wife don’t work due to unconvincing de-aging effects. I really wanted to like Paint more than I did, but it ultimately falls into the category of harmless and forgettable.
Paint is produced by Richard J. Bosner and Sam Maydew, and it will be released by IFC Films on April 7, 2023.
