LUCIDMEDIA

YOU MIGHT AS WELL LIVE: FOR THE LAST TIME, JOSH PEACE IS NOT NAPOLEON DYNAMITE

Written by Duane Rollins Wednesday, 17 March 2010 15:23

Josh Peace has a message for you. He doesn’t care what you think of him, or his character Robert Mutt, but he does draw the line in one incidence.

The lead actor of the Canadian movie You Might as Well Live, alongside with co-writer Simon Ennis, are adamant that Peace is not now, nor has he ever been, Napoleon Dynamite.

“We produced the short that Peace was based on, in 2002. A lot of the qualities of Robert Mutt were in place then – we envisioned him wearing over-the-top nylon jackets, we even originally had him enrolling in a dance school.” Peace says. “And then when we saw Napoleon Dynamite, and we looked at each other, and said ‘Oh my God that’s Robert Mutt.’”

They weren’t the only people to see the similarities. Early reviews of You Might as Well Live were haunted by caparisons to the American cult classic. That’s something that Peace has fought against from the beginning.

“If you look at Napoleon Dynamite, it’s really, at the root, a saccharine movie,” he says. “That’s not what we are about. You Might as Well Live is not a sweet story.”

Chronicling the tale of an unlikely hero in Robert Mutt, the movie is about an outsider trying to find his way in a world that doesn’t quite understand or appreciate him. As Peace says, there is a dark underside to it, despite an ample sampling of absurdist and physical comedy. According to Peace, it is precisely those dark sensibilities that provide this movie with a distinctly Canadian flavour.

You Might as Well Live isn’t going to be for all tastes, and the reviews reflect that. But, for some, could be a perfect Friday night. And Peace says he is at peace with that.

“You should watch You Might as Well Live if you want to get together with a bunch of friends – maybe have a beverage or two of your favour – and have a fantastic evening just having a good laugh.”

If viewers come away with that experience Peace says he’ll be happy. Well, so long as they don’t mistake it for Napoleon Dynamite, that is.

For the complete interview with Josh Peace, check out the printed version of Lucid Media which may be found on the racks and shelves of your local bookstores.