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Flakes
IFC Films


4.5

based on 7 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 2 votes
Read user comments
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FILM:

Internet Movie Database

MPAA RATING: Not Rated

Starring Zooey Deschanel, Aaron Stanford, and Izabella Miko

Flakes centers on the mercurial relationship of aspiring rock musician Neal Downs, who manages the cereal bar, and Miss Pussy Katz, creator of radically-themed art clothing that she tries, in vain, to sell to French Quarter tourists. The main character, however, is the cereal shop itself, where Neal holds court to an offbeat crew of locals, who debate the arcana of cereal history and ideal milk/flake ratios. But then an aspiring young capitalist rips off the store's concept and, when Miss P. gets involved, suddenly everything is at stake--Flakes, love, and the very survival of righteous breakfast food veneration. (Independent Digital Entertainment)

GENRE(S):	Comedy
WRITTEN BY:	Karey Kirkpatrick Chris Poche
DIRECTED BY:	Michael Lehmann
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: May 20, 2008 Theatrical: December 19, 2007
RUNNING TIME:	92 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

Freakies fans will swoon.

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

While Stanford is more annoying than endearing as the self-righteous slacker, the charming Deschanel provides the film with its few moments of genuine fun with her offbeat turn as the wily, put-upon girlfriend.

Village Voice Julia Wallace

Despite a few good one-liners, the dialogue is overwritten, and director Michael Lehmann (Heathers, The Truth About Cats & Dogs) is in thrall with the hipness he tries to chronicle.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

A business course on cutthroat capitalism disguised as a slacker comedy: That’s the kindest way to describe Michael Lehmann’s Flakes.

New York Post V.A. Musetto

There are a few sweet moments as the story reaches its unsurprising conclusion. But, all in all, Flakes isn't going to bowl you over.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Unless you happen to be one yourself, chances are pretty good that you'll take an immediate dislike to the self-satisfied hipsters who populate this disappointing comedy.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Noel Murray

The characters Lehmann and company use as generational mouthpieces bear no relation to any people who have ever existed, and they barely work as parody.

The average user rating for this movie is 4.5 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Chad S. gave it a4:
When a copycat breakfast cereal-only business opens across from Flakes, the rinky-dink but independently-owned store sees their stoner clientele defect to its corporate rival. Contrary to what a PR spokesman from some big-name franchise might say, a behemoth such as Starbucks probably does not help small businesses in the long run through increased foot traffic. An advocacy film like Robert Greenwald's "Wal-Mart: The High Price of Low Cost" informs the viewer about what they probably could have guessed themselves. The corporate mentality is to shut you down. Too bad this slacker comedy turned out to be so convoluted, because the basic idea behind "Flakes", which was to address the disharmony that pits deep-pocketed franchises against mom and pop operations, had potential. When Neal Downs(Aaron Stanford) refuses to hire his girlfriend Miss Pussy Katz(Zooey Deschanel), she goes across the street to work for the enemy. Her plan is to put the cereal emporium out of business so Neal can concentrate on his music. Throughout her(and his retaliatory) machinations, against all likelihood, the hipsters maintain their cohabitual accomodations. They deserve each other. Neal hatches a scheme that exploits the homeless, while Miss Pussy Katz(does that make her boyfriend Mr. Dick Weed?) never considers the welfare of Flakes' proprietor Willie(Christopher Lloyd), as she strives to take away his livelihood.

Jay H. gave it a5:
5.5/10. Decent story, well acted. It's a bit quirky but it's entertaining. It has a nice offbeat style to it. Overall it doesn't quite make a great film, but it provided a minor diversion.

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Flakes IFC Films

Flakes
IFC Films