“Lollilove” is a mockumentary about James and Jenna Gunn, two young Hollywood jack-offs who yearn for more popularity and riches, and their plan of attack is to exploit the hell out of the homeless. Jenna has masterminded the preposterous idea to distribute lollipops to those unfortunates without homes; Lollilove. In doing so she will hobnob with the jet set in an attempt to impress them with her charitable intents, and to also possibly procure funding for her ridiculous scheme.
Of course, sweets are not going to change the world alone, but how the candy is presented to the vagrant will, or so Jenna believes. Her husband James is an artist of sorts and has been chosen to design and paint the custom-made wrappers. These tiny coverings will sport pandering, racist caricatures who are supposed to spout uplifting messages, but ultimately wind up mocking their intended recipients. Herein lies James’ only interest in the supposed humanitarian project, the distribution of his mediocre art. James’ heart of gold is shining through.
Like many other wealthy nitwits, these two Tinsel-town flakes are completely incapable of recognizing and understanding any reality other than their own. Their lives are so tee-totally bankrupt of any real meaning or value that even their bloated bank accounts and minor fame are short-changing them in filling the void. Most of their behavior is reprehensible, or tacky at best, making some of Anna Nicole Smith’s doings seem pedestrian or even charming by comparison.
It’s incredibly uncomfortable listening to this couple of clueless boneheads discuss their thoughts and purposes behind Lollilove. Their ill-placed enthusiasm and theories constantly step into the viewers comfort zone and pushing the television further away seems to be the only alternative. It’s a guilt by association kind of thing. They try so hard to convince potential corporate sponsors, the media and the public of their good intentions and their desire to make a difference in homelessness, but it just isn’t working.
The film never implies that they don’t care, but through various interviews it becomes painfully obvious that they are not at all equipped with the tools necessary to sympathize, let alone empathize, with the less fortunate. These scenes illicit a nervous kind of laughter from the viewer that is offset only by the couple’s constant bickering and marital strains. Ultimately it becomes preferable, and quite amusing to witness a marriage in trouble than to attempt wrapping one’s head around James’ and Jenna’s lame-brained notions.
The good news is that in real life James and Jenna aren’t at all this way, well they are rich and fairly famous, but… That aside, for them the film is a jab at those charity balls and events that do more to promote and popularize celebrities and celebrity hopefuls than any honest to god good. “Lollilove” is satire for sure, but it’s so damned believable that it’s difficult, at times, to watch. Director Jenna Fischer has done a remarkable job here and if she continues on this esoteric and off-beat path she may find herself among the ranks of Christopher Guest and company.
Troma went berserk on the extras with this disc which includes audio commentary by: Jenna Fischer, James Gunn, Stephen Blackhart and Peter Alton. They’ve also included a “making of” documentary, deleted scenes, out-takes, interviews and tons more totaling over three hours.
