"C.O.G." (2012) Child of God?

The Trailer:

Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Cast: Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare, & Corey Stoll
Plot Summary: On a harebrained journey to find himself, David (Jonathan Groff) comes into contact with a slew of people who don't quite understand him.

This is one of those indie-dramas where nothing really happens and yet you enjoy it all the same. It's funny, quirky, and full of heart. And while yes I did say it's funny, it's not a comedy: it is a drama through and through, a coming-of-age tale. A tale that I enjoyed every minute of.

C.O.G. isn't even a complete story, but more like a chapter of a larger story, and while that may be troublesome to a few viewers, for me, it's a format that I appreciate. (Side note: this film is actually based on a chapter/essay from David Sedaris' autobiographical book Naked, I haven't read the book so no comparisons will be made) The idea that there is a before and after of what we see on camera is delightful and discussion-worthy. I want to know what sent this naive boy onto a self-discovering journey, why is there a strain in his and his mother's relationship, why is he using an alias (we find out very early on that his real name is Samuel). These aren't questions that if answered will affect the film in any way, but the sheer mystery of this character is intriguing. And then the after: after all the events of the film take place what comes of David? Does he return to Yale? Does he mend his relationship with his mother? Is he better because of what happened, or worse? Again, it's not necessary to know any of these answers to enjoy the film, but it allows for discussion and for us to view David, not as a fictional character, but as someone who exists outside of this. Adding to that, because of this chapter-like format, it allows for the emotions and reactions to all the events within the film to truly crack open into very real human experiences, something we can all relate to. So I applaud David Sedaris for his essay and for Kyle Patrick Alvarez for adapting it to film, it was done wonderfully.

The theme that is the constant throughout the film is finding yourself in a world that doesn't understand and/or care about you. And to convey this particular theme in this story is David, a young, gay man looking for acceptance and self-enlightenment in a small, religious, farming town. In his attempt, as callow as it is, he finds a genuine inner-strength and a real sense of humanity, but not without also encountering the worst qualities of humanity. And most times, the good and bad qualities aren't mutually exclusive, a reminder that sometimes people commit horrid cruelties in the name of good intentions. And Jonathan Groff as David does an amazing job as this naive individual with a sincere, but ill-conceived intention of self-discovery: he is, at times, callous, apathetic, cynical, but mostly he is endearing and lost. His ability to convey a range of emotions without the use of too many words is phenomenal and a result of his many years of stage acting.  Then there's Denis O'Hare as Jon, the epitome of a Child of God (hence the title of the film). He preaches to whoever will listen and has a strong, but sometimes skewed idea of the Lord's will. And as the charismatic antagonist, he is perfection, he's done that role multiple times but never fails to impress and to do it with originality every time. Then there's Corey Stoll as Curly, and though he only plays a small part, his part is an important one: he is the catalyst for David's venture into religion. Though David's belief in God is merely a false belief, it is where he finds some of the good that humanity can offer. All the characters are real, relatable, and complex which I can certainly appreciate.

What I like and dislike most about C.O.G. is it's ability to be enlightening and also feel pointless at the same time. When it is over there is a sense of "what was the point?", but also like you got to peek into a moment in someone's life which makes you feel kind of special. I'm sure in context of the book, some parts of this film may make more sense, but taken out of context, it is still a stand-alone piece that speaks for itself. It is a story of trying to find who you are and where you fit in the world, and who can't relate to that? I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I'm undecided if I would ever watch it again.

Side Notes (I don't know where to include in my review):

• Don't be fooled by the trailer, Troian Bellisario is in the film for less than fifteen minutes.
• Apparently the film score is annoying to some, but honestly I didn't even noticed it.
• Have you heard Jonathan Groff in Hamilton, the musical about Alexander Hamilton? If not, you definitely need to listen to his songs on the cast recording, he is amazing!!