I read the book Choke a couple years ago because I was a huge fan of the film and book, Fight Club, which was written by the same author, Chuck Palahniuk. So when I first heard of Choke being adapted into a film I was pretty pumped. I figured that this could make for a very entertaining and messed up movie. I was entertained, but also a little bored at times. I think that director Clark Gregg could of done much more with the source material, and I feel maybe if there was a more experienced director behind the camera then this would of turned out a lot better.
The story centers on Victor Mancini, played by Sam Rockwell, a sex-addicted tour guide for a colonial theme park. Victor bangs chicks at sex addict support groups and fakes choking in up-scale restaurants, so that he can con people into giving him some money to pay for his mother, Ida Mancini, played by Anjelica Huston, who is in the loony bin. Victor then falls for a doctor in the hospital, Paige Marshall, played by Kelly Macdonald.
Sam Rockwell was cast perfectly, when reading the book there wasn’t anyone cast as the lead yet, but I couldn’t imagine anyone else portraying the disturbed character of Victor Mancini better then Rockwell did. I think Sam Rockwell is an underrated actor, who puts in a very solid performance in this film. Anjelica Huston also put in a decent performance as the crazy mother who never recognized her son. The scenes between Rockwell and Huston made for the best dramatic scenes of the film. I was little disappointed in Victor’s friend, Denny, played by Brad William Henke. I thought he could have been funnier in a supporting role. Kelly MacDonald was decent, but nothing special in her supporting role.
I remembered the book being really messed up and pretty hilarious at parts. I didn’t think the film was as messed up as it could have been, and I can only remember laughing out loud at a couple of parts. Overall Choke makes for a decent film. A film that is entertaining in some aspects, but fails to live up to its full potential.
Imdb – 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes – 55%
Moviewiseguys – 6.5/10
Rent it.