Human Nature (2002) - Movie Review

Charlie Kaufman is notorious for his strange screenplays. "Being John Malkovich" was wildly original and off the wall, and when asked to adapt the book "The Orchid Thief" in his latest movie "Adaptation," he decided to write himself into the screenplay, as well as a fictitious identical twin brother. That being said, "Human Nature," his other, lesser-known film of 2002, is no less strange, featuring a furry woman (the otherwise beautiful Patricia Arquette), an odd scientist that is trying to teach mice table manners (Tim Robbins), a feral man who thinks he is an ape (Rhys Ifans), and a French assistant that isn't really French. The movie is about love - no, it's about sex - hence, human nature.

Basically, you will like "Human Nature" if you like weird movies and you will hate it if you don't. It has sex, nudity and a narrative given from Tim Robbins while he is in some sort of purgatory, which reminded me a lot of "hell" from those "got milk?" commercials. As a weird movie, it's pretty good, but, then again, it's really... weird.

"Human Nature" is a movie that cannot be explained. If you like Charlie Kaufman films, check it out; otherwise, it may not be worth your money.

Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.