C.O.G.

By: Tyler Pirner
In-House Review - Jul 01 2013

In the first film adaptation of a David Sedaris work (based on his 1997 collection, "Naked" - C.O.G. stands for "Child of God"), this heartfelt drama follows David (Jonathan Groff), a Yale student with an attitude, who leaves a troubled past behind to journey to an Oregon apple farm to discover how the other side lives.

There, with a new name (Samuel) he meets several characters including the farm's curmudgeonly owner (Dean Stockwell); and Curly, (Corey Stoll) a forklift operator who takes a flirtatious interest in him.

In a time of need, David accepts an offer of friendship from Jon (Denis O'Hare), an Iraq War veteran and born-again Christian. Taking David on as his clock-making apprentice, Jon nudges David to accept Jesus in an attempt to become a better (and straighter) man.

Although the story was published more than 15 years ago, Kyle Patrick Alvarez's C.O.G. easily works as a finely nuanced and funny look at one smart-assed young man's maturation.

By: Tim Anders

Right up front I want to say, Jonathan Groff is amazing in this...he is adorable and his acting is wonderful. I also enjoyed the performances of most of the actors...everyone did a great job...it was the material with which they had to grapple that causes the disillusion.

This started off well enough. The typical sarcastic, intellectually unpredictable and edgy humor of David Sedaris is well evident in the opening traveling scenes and sparsely sprinkled throughout the first 30-40 minutes of the film. Unfortunately, I didn't find it anywhere close to the humor I am used to hearing when listening to David Sedaris, himself, read from his own works. I am an ardent Sedaris fan. That is why I have a difficult time with the selling of this film as something David Sedaris fans would "rejoice" about.

One example is when the amorous Curly (Corey Stoll), is rejected by David (Jonathan Groff), the resulting escalation of actions by a jilted Curly play into the prejudice stereotype that homosexuals are crazed lunatics. Why was Curly made out to be so destructive and violent? Was it only to create the circumstances that pushed David to seek out Jon? There were cute and funny moments in the interaction of Curly and David. However, how it all played out...while it could be argued "real" in the sense that things can happen like that...left it all feeling very empty and negated what little humor there was.

As I said, it was a bit humorous, for a while. Then it got weird...and not weird in a good way.
The interaction with Jon (Denis O'Hare), begins simply with a "call to Jesus" in the form of Jon's "witnessing" to David on the street. David initially rejects the "word of God". However, the relationship between Jon and David becomes much more intimate when David calls on Jon in a moment of anguish and need. Jon exploits David's need for companionship and shelter which ultimately makes David believe he does, indeed, only need to become a Christian to make everything better. It brought me back to my own experience as a young man just coming to terms with my own sexuality and facing the cold, hard stare of Christianity. The irony is how quickly the tables turned and the "Christian" Jon, became just another example of evil in the world at the end of the film. I found this an abhorrent way to close out this story and again, empty and sad.

I know others feel this is a wonderful film. As I said, the acting was excellent. However, this is my review of my feelings after watching this film. I was expecting David Sedaris because it was advertised as such. When I read any David Sedaris book or listen to David Sedaris read his works, I laugh and feel a gratifying sense of satisfaction at the conclusion.

I felt empty and sad at the end of this film. If that was the goal of Kyle Patrick Alvarez only he can say and I have not able to find anything that states what he was trying to accomplish. I can only speak for myself and offer it in the form of this review.

By: Amos Lassen

David (Jonathan Groff) is a cocky young man who leaves Yale and goes in search of himself at an Oregon apple farm (ala Steinbeck). What he finds is his lifestyle and his ideas being taken to task by anyone and everyone who comes anywhere near him. He finds God and some real weirdoes. Based on an essay by David Sedaris, this is a much harder look than he gave us in his original work (and the first time something he has written has been adapted for film). Preppy David finds himself being humiliated by living "among heathens". He had hoped to make a connection with his inner self and suppress his homosexual feelings by harvesting apples, changing his name to Samuel and living in a Mexican workforce. He comes into contact with the "common man" and Groff as Samuel is amazing, so amazing, in fact, that Samuel and Groff seem to be the same person.

When he is sent into town by the foreman (Dean Stockwell) on a demeaning errand, Samuel meets Jon (Denis O'Hare), an Evangelist who wants to know if Samuel is a child of God (C.O.G.). Samuel does not take to the idea of salvation and declines the offer preferring to work with apples. He then meets Curly (Corey Stoll), a forklift operator who flirts with him.
David/Samuel is still in the closet and we get a look at the way he interacts with his mother (via telephone) just so he can let her know where he is. When things do not work with Curly, Samuel calls Jon who thinks he now has a potential convert but Samuel tells him that he thinks the Bible is not written well, but he does stay with Jon and listens to the prayers. We are surprised at this as the film seems to move from satire to soul searching. Samuel even begins to allow himself to accept Christian values and some of the stories from "The Good Book". He learns how to look at and deal with his faults and even becomes kinder and something of a proselytizer himself. There is a scene where he breaks down in church and pleads with God to find him a wife.

I had the feeling that the film was giving Christians the "go ahead" and convert us but I soon understood that director/writer Kyle Patrick Alvarez was using irony in order that we decide between the acceptance of Christian values or not. Samuel is constantly having to re-evaluate himself and the stereotypes he has of others-immigrants, factory workers, Christians- but we do not see how they feel about us as gay people.
One scene that stands out as when David and his ex-girlfriend talk about sadomasochism and he tells her that using public transportation and picking apples is indeed masochism. (I suspect David has ridden on Boston's Green Line T). Alvarez really gets to us with the way he balances Christianity and homosexuality. I suppose we can call this a comedy of manners as we meet so many people we would not usually come into contact with. There is not a whole lot of political correctness in this film. It was quite the hit at Sundance and is now heading for the LGBT Film Festival Circuit and is the opening night film at Outfest this year. That alone gives it credence.