Human Nature (DVD)
Directed by: Michel Gondry
Written by: Charlie Kaufman
Starring: Patricia Arquette, Rhys Ifans, Tim Robbins

Pretty much everyone missed Human Nature when it finally got released this year. It debuted at Cannes in 2001 and was put on hold for a long long time. Bad sign. It received pretty lousy reviews upon its release, and I couldnt understand why. I still don’t. Charlie Kaufman is God.

Let me first point out that Human Nature isn’t a work of genius. It doesnt work on as many levels as the new Adaptation does, and it doesn’t raise any questions like Being John Malkovich did. It is however, very quirky, funny and weird, with an appropriate cast and a capable director in Michael Gondry. Funny how yet another music video director nabbed a Kaufman flick. You’ve probably seen his weird and inventive videos for Bjork, Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk and others.

The story: Lila (Patricia Arquette) has a condition where she hastoo much body hair that she cant get rid of, to thepoint where she looks like an ape. She escapes to thewilderness to commune and become a nature writer.

Nathan (Tim Robbins) is a scientist with an extremely small penis. He was raised very strictly by his parents (Robert Forster and Mary Kay Place! Yay!) to have good etiquette and speak with large words. He now is trying to teach table manners to mice. He hooks up with Lila and they find Puff.

Puff (Rhys Ifans, Adrian in “Little Nicky”) is absolutely awesome and steals the show. He was raised in the wilderness by his father, played by Toby Huss a.k.a. King of the Hills’ Cotton Hill and Kahn Souphanousinphone. Nathan kidnaps him and teaches him table manners.

You don’t need to know much more than that, but here’s more anyways. Theres more partner swapping here than in Being John Malkovich, theres a musical number, theres Mirando Otto (Eowyn from the Two Towers) as Nathan’s assistant Gabrielle, theres a lot of dry humping gags and hilarious dialogue. Rosie Perez even managed to find work in this movie playing a electolosis doctor who finds love with a midget in the end.

As for extra features. Well, there is none. Because we the people didnt even try to find time for this movie, we got nuttin. Apparently a European release for this film includes music videos from the directors’ band, but alas, we are without nary a scratch of special features for Human Nature. Which is sad because it could have been a selling point for people to search out this hilarious and weird little comic gem. A definite renter, and if you like, spend the extra dough for the DVD. — Goon

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