Written and Directed by Colin West
Starring Jim Gaffigan, Rhea Seehorn, Katelyn Nacon, and Gabriel Rush

Imagine if all the tools needed to turn your true passion into some kind of reality you can pursue were gifted to you from above.

For me, that would be a connection to the contacts who could instantly enable me to earn a full-time wage doing what I’m doing right now for a hobby – writing movie reviews! For Cameron, the stale host of a dated educational science series for kids now banished to a midnight time slot on television, this would be the necessary equipment to fulfil his astronautical aspirations. 

It isn’t just that hosting gig that’s gone stale in Cameron’s life either. His wife, Erin, is seeking a divorce and he has problems having a connection with his teenage daughter, Nora. The reality is that Cameron’s fantasy life is not only an escape but also a more satisfying existence to reside, or hide, in. The problem now is that fantasy life is becoming a reality.

Linoleum does a solid job of introducing and curiously expanding upon its appealing premise. Early crash-landings of the unexpected and the resulting anticipation to see the direction these take the film and its central character together with its wondrous score and Jim Gaffigan’s performance exhibit spellbinding capabilities. Having not seen Gaffigan in a leading role before, he reminded me a lot of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, both in appearance and mannerisms. Soon after the film introduces some new faces to the screen, namely Nora’s new classmate, Marc, and his strict father, Linoleum heads into a different and somewhat more grounded and less captivating direction. That’s not to imply that Cameron’s plight is suddenly abandoned. Rather, it needs to allow room to develop its sub-plotting and connect this to the central plot out of necessity for a forthcoming twist to the tale I don’t reckon too many will see coming. 

I commend writer and director Colin West for what is ultimately quite an ambitious endeavour and for answering almost all of the necessary questions this premise and its conclusion provokes. This sci-fi comedy-drama unearths a sentimental side that is quite deep and will likely make Linoleum an emotionally rich experience for viewers whose captivation never sways. For me and I suspect for others too, Linoleum isn’t as deeply thought-out end-to-end as it needed to be to wholly satisfy or make overall sense of.

Linoleum is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from March 30th.

Moviedoc thanks Kismet and Motto Publicity for the invite to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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