By: Grace Conley

In A Sentence: Don’t Learn Karate

The Art of Self Defense is an awesome movie. It’s a great combination of comedy, action and that indie weirdness we all need. It’s got style, edge and is enjoyable to watch throughout.

Jesse Eisenberg is typecast yet again. He plays as the nerdy awkward guy that can barely stand his own but becomes a powerful beast throughout the course of this movie. The juxtaposition of his looks and his actions makes this movie all the more exciting.

It’s visually beautiful! It has a very neutral and grainy color palette that makes it stand out amongst other films.

The story is so clean. Each beat is hit very meticulously like the strike of a hand, that it makes watching it feel really smooth. It does make the film a bit predictable, and I was able to guess the big plot twist about 40 minutes in, but even so, it doesn’t make it any less impactful.

This movie slaps, literally! Definitely one of my favorite comedies from 2019 so far. It’s just so witty and good! If you like violence, and offbeat dark humor, this is the movie for you.

Verdict

9.3/10