The question on my mind before seeing this film was not whether or not its characters could withstand an endurance competition to win a car, but whether a feature-length film about such a topic could sustain my interest. Ninety minutes later, the answer is yes, but only just.
Melanie Lynskey, Craig Hall and Stephen Lovatt do their job well, despite thin source material. It’s unfortunate that Lynskey’s character remains limp throughout – either crying or looking forlorn until the credits roll. In the end she lost my sympathy. And Lovatt’s car dealer is part of a weak unresolved sub-plot that only takes our attention away from the contestants.
Despite this, director Anthony McCarten keeps things ticking along with some clever editing, in particular the disorientating bits as the participants grow tired. He manages to inject enough variation into the action (during the contestant’s meal and toilet breaks, especially) to keep things interesting.
To ramp up the drama, Don McGlashan has been enlisted to provide some melancholic music. It’s a bit soppy in parts but just about does the trick. We also get a deep-voiced radio host providing some rumbling voice-of-God narration.
I’d suggest that Show of Hands attempts to be a symbolic, metaphorical examination of greed and selflessness, but doesn’t quite convince. It takes itself a bit too seriously for a movie about people trying to keep their hands on a car. But it’s likeable and pleasant enough. It’s good to see Lynskey back in New Zealand, and Hall is an appealing actor too.
