#Review: The Cobbler
What would you do if you could become anyone else? You could become a high-powered attorney, you could become Miss Universe… the options are endless. The Cobbler explores this in a quirky way that I was definitely not expecting.
In Thomas McCarthy’s film The Cobbler we are introduced to Max Simkin, played by Adam Sandler; a pickle-loving, hardworking New Yorker. His days consist of working alone in his family’s century old shop, sharing pleasantries with the barber next door and a perky activist then finally making his way to a home he shares with his mother. At this point in the film, Max’s simple life isn’t enough to build a conversation on until Ludlow, played by Method Man, stops by his shop for a quick shine and a ready-by-6 shoe repair.
When Max’s machine breaks he is forced to use a pedal powered antique passed through generations to finish Ludlow’s shoes. While waiting for Ludlow to pick up his shoes Max tries them on, turns to the mirror and – whoosh– Max has transformed into Ludlow. When trying on another pair of shoes and finding they don’t have the same result, he uses the antique and it again transforms his outer body. With this he can become anyone he wants- given he has a pair of their shoes.
A little like a Disney fable at first, I was excited to see what was to come… but going further into the film you start to notice the stereotypes he indulges in when he steps into another pair of shoes. Committing a crime? Becomes a black man. Walking through china town? Becomes Chinese. It really is a waste of such a whimsical idea. That being said, there are moments where Max redeems himself from these cringe worthy portrayals and he uses this gift to give his mother one last date with his father
Fast forward to middle of the film Max gets the idea to steal Ludlow’s watch collection and ends up getting involved with a branch of organized crime led by a female developer. The plot gets a littler darker when we see the villainess conspire to burn down a building (With tenants inside if needed) making room for future developments. The Cobbler is more about a man using his gift to get himself out of trouble than about self-evolution or truly understanding another individual.
From this we see what could have been a spectacular play on the on phrase You never truly know someone until you walk a mile in their shoes going down the drain. This film makes me believe that even after a mile you’ll still only be left with a superficial understanding of that person… but hey, at least the walk was fun.
The film does however give an interesting and crucial perspective on anti-gentrification. Maintaining a thriving community is something that should have a lot more attention and it’s refreshing to see this portrayed so heavily in The Cobbler.
eOne Films release The Cobbler in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and UVOD on Friday, March 13 (Today!)
[Photo Courtesy of eOne]