#TIFF14: “THE COBBLER”

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

Thomas McCarthy has written some fantastic movies such as Win Win, and Up and has brought his newest feature, The Cobbler to TIFF this year. Unfortunately the Movie in the third act falls apart. It only feels like a typical McCarthy heartwarming Film, but then falls into uncharted territory in the Third Act.

The Movie tries to explain the metaphor of “walk a mile in another man’s shoes” as Max (Adam Sandler) discovers upon his shoe repair machine breaking, that his Father’s old machine has some magical properties. If he cobbles shoes on his Father’s old machine, and then puts the shoes on he becomes that person. Now with a power such as that there is certainly room for mischief and room to make other peoples lives richer. However, Max is not selfish and attempts to make his community stand strong other than fall apart at the hands of Miss Greenwall (Ellen Barkin). Max manages to do this by wearing Ludlow’s shoes (Method Man). Ludlow is a thug who provides ‘protection’ for local businesses and dealers in illegal activity. Will Max be able to save his neighborhood and impress the cute girl he is trying to date, Carmen (Melonie Diaz) or will Greenwall win.

The Cobbler had potential going for it, until the overarching issue came to a resolve and the movie fell into out of place sentimentality. The way cinema ideally works is you have an issue with obstacles and by the end of the Film the issue has a resolution. However, if your issue is resolved at the end of the second act, there needs to be something to complete the Film. The ending, though not out of nowhere, threw the Movie into a spiral of decline making anything that was enjoyable unfortunately forgettable.

The Cobbler screens Thursday September 11, 2014 9 PM at the Elgin Theatre and again Friday, September 12, 2014 9:45 AM at Scotiabank Theatre.