Post-SXSW 2020: Feels Good Man Review

For those who didn’t already know, this year’s SXSW was cancelled do the coronavirus outbreak. We at KLM are still here to do our part to help cover films slated to appear at this year’s festival. To keep up with our latest post-SXSW coverage, click here.

One of the most infamous aspects about the notorious Pepe The Frog is his various connotations. He is known as a cartoon character, a widely used meme and most recently, in an unfortunate turn of events, a hate symbol. The story of how he evolved over time is quite insane and the new documentary entitled Feels Good Man portrays it for it’s true nature – a tragedy.

While it may sound crazy on paper, it’s truly impressive how well this film works. Everything about the story at hand here is extremely captivating. Cartoonist Matt Furie, the true subject of the film, is a tremendously interesting figure, and one that really allows all the emotion and seriousness of such an oddball topic to feel grounded. Feels Good Man could have easily leaned way too much into the meme-lore of it all, and as a result feeling silly. However, the way the film builds around Furie enables him to be a truly effective emotional anchor for the film. Through each insane turn of events, there is always a balance between said insanity with a truly empathetic view of the man that was thrusted into this awful situation.

Balance is the name of the game here, because this emotion is masterfully balanced with true entertainment value. Not a passing second of this lets the audience zone out, as Furie and Pepe’s stories are endlessly captivating in addition to significantly unique. The fast pacing also really lets the film thrive.

Feels Good Man is also incredibly cinematic for a documentary, and is immersive in a way that can’t be put into words. This is a result of mostly technical feats, but it’s the way they work along with the story is where the film truly succeeds. Narration is placed over vibrant, gorgeous and immersive animated sequences with Pepe and the characters from Boys Club that are awe-inspiring, and incredibly deserved of the big screen treatment. Everything about the editing and animation here allows for a truly unparalleled cinematic experience.

In the end, the experience of Feels Good Man can’t really be described in words, just because of how unparalleled it is to anything else.

*still courtesy of SXSW*

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