As the son of Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates, it’s easy to see why Owen Kline would want to tell this story of trying to explore the world on one’s own terms, without the assistance and comforts of the world one has always known. When he goes to visit his parents on Christmas, there’s a tangible security and relief that comes from just being in a place that isn’t intolerable. Even Robert’s supportive friend Miles ( Miles Emanuel) makes situations agonizing, as he stands too close to Robert when talking and seems a little too invested in this mostly one-sided friendship.īut this revolting world that Kline crafts isn’t just for laughs (although Funny Pages is uncomfortably hilarious), it serves a purpose in Richard’s journey. Even when Robert gets a glimmer of hope for his future when he meets Wallace ( Our Flag Means Death’s Matthew Maher)-who used to work for Image Comics-Wallace is an unsettling and uncertain presence who can turn on the anger in a second. This feeling spreads beyond just Robert’s horrific apartment, into the rest of the real world. Kline uses the disturbing nature of the outside world as a way to show the difficulties of getting started on your own, a terrifying place that it would be easy to try and avoid at all costs. RELATED: 9 Great Lesser-Known A24 Movies on HBO Max, From 'Enemy' to 'Locke' Kline’s direction and the absurd set design make it so the audience can almost feel the heat and stench that must be emanating from that vile living arrangement. When Robert movies out, he finds himself living in the dingiest basement apartment possible, with two other men who keep the heat at boiling temperatures for no discernible reason, other than to show how sweaty and gross this new situation is for Robert. Funny Pages is as if Terry Zwigoff tried to bring a John Waters nightmare to life. While Kline’s screenplay often feels like a collection of odd scenarios for Robert, Funny Pages fully commits to its disgusting aesthetic that makes the viewer feel like they are under a thick layer of grime. Almost immediately, Robert drops out of high school, tells his parents ( Maria Dizzia and Josh Pais) that he’s moving out and finding his own place in Trenton, and decides to forego college altogether in order to become a cartoonist on his own terms. Soon after this discussion, Katano is killed in a car crash right in front of Robert, and this accident solidifies this advice in Robert’s head.
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