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  While attending a screening of Boyhood while it was in theaters, my husband and I saw a preview for Frank. It appeared to be an off-beat, freakishly bizarre comedy; the type of thing my husband and I typically enjoy. Therefore, around Christmas when I was shopping online for my husband and saw that it was out on Blu Ray, I couldn’t resist giving it a try.
 
         Frank, who wears a giant fake head, is the leader of a band made up of misfits who have their own “unique” take on music. Knowing none of this, Jon joins the band as the keyboard player with dreams of making it big. Unbeknownst to the rest of the group, Jon begins recording them as they struggle to produce a new album, and posting the videos online. The videos catapult the band to the forefront and they are given their big break, but are they ready for it?
 
        Frank was so utterly disappointing that I had trouble putting my frustrations with it into words. I mean, I knew going into it that it would feature Michael Fassbender as Frank, a supposed musical genius that wears a giant fake head. I knew it was going to be quirky and weird, but I didn’t think it would be weird for the sake of weird. The movie has a strong focus on depression, and what that depression means for the characters, but it gives the message that these people are far better off with their crippling depression than without it. The other strong theme, (that apparently, based on what I’ve read, no one else has picked up on) is that it’s perfectly ok to manipulate people in the name of keeping things the same. Clara, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character, manipulates Frank throughout the film and yet when Jon tries to point out the manipulation he’s tossed aside.  
 
        This movie had such potential, it seemed. It was supposed to be a film about a band who’s star is rising fast, led by the odd lead singer Frank…who just so happens to wear a giant fake head. Who wouldn’t see the comedic potential in that? But when film makers grasp at straws and make things deeper than they need to be they ruin movies that would’ve otherwise been perfectly good, and that doesn’t benefit anyone.  

               Frank is rated R, was directed by Lenny Abrahamson and stars Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal. It’s available now on Blu Ray, DVD and digital download.