THE BEACH BUM

US, 2019, 93 minutes, Colour.

Matthew McConaughey, Snoop Dogg, Isla Fisher, Zac Efron, Martin Lawrence, Jonah Hill, Jimmy Buffett.

Directed by Harmony Korine.

Probably safe and wise to say beware all non-Slackers and non-Stoners. This is not your kind of film. (Corollary which, obviously, is that it is a film for Slackers and Stoners, practical or theoretical!)

The title is not deceptive. Matthew McConnaughey who, in the early 1990s, was able to pay a Slacker and Stoner, dazed and confused, now brings a certain experience and self-confidence to this kind of role, a talented writer in his way, but, dedicated to living in his past, egged on by friends and associates, assuming that life is fun, that drinking and drugs are a natural component of this lifestyle, (to say nothing of daggy clothes and hats).

Non-Stoners will be turned off almost immediately, being introduced to Moondog, and his friend, Lingerie, who keeps turning up throughout the film,, played by Snoop Dogg. The central activity is that Moondog’s daughter is getting married and he is being urged to be present (and, if possible, behave himself) at the wedding. He does need doesn’t.

However, if an audience continues watching, there is a plot development when the wife (Isla Fisher) unexpectedly dies, and stipulates in her will that her daughter is to get her inheritance but her husband will have to wait, behave, prove himself. Likely?

So, Moondog wanders, takes up with another slacker played by Zac Efron, encounters the captain of the boat, played by Martin Lawrence, Snoop Dogg turning up again, lots of talk, lots of idiotic behaviour, lots of drinking and drugs, an attempt at being creative and to revive his past, discussions with solicitors, and… Who knows?

The film was directed by one-time enfant terrible, Harmony Korine, Gung Ho, Julien donkey-boy, Mister Lonely.