Marathon (2021)

Content by Tony Macklin. Originally published on June 9, 2021 @ tonymacklin.net.

Marathon is an engaging indie mockumentary. It's a spirited romp.

Marathon is the tale of 6 people preparing to participate in the small-time Devil's Canyon Marathon. It's the 15th anniversary of the haphazard race in the desert.

The racers are a collection of amateurs. Boy, are they amateurs.

We may not want to be with these people, but the annoying characters have some universal human qualities as they chase their dream. Marathon shows these qualities under duress.The film makes their absurdity human - that's its basic strength.

The creator of the Devil's Canyon Marathon is Ed Clap (Jimmy Slonia) - a contemporary Mr. Peepers. He founded the race and has kept it going for a decade and a half. It's not successful, but it still exists.

The most obnoxious of the potential participants is Ryan (Andrew Hansen). He is a consummate loser. He has failed at business and marriage, yet keeps striking a constantly aggressive pose of superiority.

Jenna (Natalie Sullivan) wears a costume as a banana. Her goal is to get into the Guinness Book of Records as the marathoner who finishes best dressed as a fruit. She runs into fruitful opposition as another banana-garbed runner (Roberto Raad) appears.

Abby (Anais Thomassian) is running to try to escape the confines of her marriage - a young son and bland husband (Marc Roberts). But she is consistently jinxed in her efforts.

Shareef (Tavius Cortez) is a black man who is running to prove himself to his insulting sister and the world around him.

Emilou (Kimia Behpoornia) plans to run, but life's pleasures get in the way.

It's a motley relay race.

The cast - many unknown - is gifted. They are pros playing amateurs.

The co-directors/co-writers Keith Strasbaugh and Anthony Guiduvbaldi are proficient. Both have MFAs from UNLV.

They are stylistically adept - using brightly lit camerawork. When the off-screen photographer of Ryan leaves and is replaced, the camerawork is not as sharp for a while. That's canny.

Both Strasbaugh and Guiduvbaldi appreciate the value of language. Although some of the dialogue seems improvised, it never gets out of control.

Marathon, of course, has its unevenness. Ryan gets tiresome, and the theme of bananas is strained, but.the filmmakers never lose control.

One of the major strengths of Marathon is the brisk editing. It keeps scenes from getting bogged down. Strasbaugh and Guiduvbaldi were co-editors.

[Caveat: the filmmakers sent me swag. They know how to be Ed Clap. They know how to Dole out.]

Like the best of mockumentaries, Marathon is both glib and meaningful.

It runs its race - with panache.