petersl1
"The Plight of Clownana "is the funniest short film I've ever seen! It is very original and the voice over and music are both right on throughout! I mean, not only is there a clown/banana hybrid, but a "Dildo Man?" It is too funny to properly put into words. I was extremely impressed with this given that it's an independent, short film. I was giggling through every moment of this hilarity!!!! Since I've watched this, I've been sharing this film with many of my friends, who share the same opinion as me -- they laughed for the entire 16 minutes.I really hope to see more from the writer, director and producer.Thanks, Lindsay
DaisyDoria
What better a metaphor for life than a clown? Especially a sad clown. The more depressed, decrepit, broken-down, busted-up, and bruised the clown is, the better a metaphor for life. Perhaps this is where the majority of coulrophobia stems from. Nobody wants to look a metaphor in the eye, now do they? The truth hurts! Bananas, on the other hand, don't tend to incite fear. A banana is a nice fruit. A good fruit. Yellow, aesthetically pleasing, and smooth. Sometimes, people slip on their peels and hurt themselves, much to the merriment of all. Honest, clean fun - yes, who doesn't like bananas? What better way, then, to clean up a clown than to cross-breed it with a banana? "Madness!" you say? Well, it's not madness to Ishmael, for he is the Clownana. "The Plight of Clownana" is a short film, 16 minutes long if I was counting correctly. Written and directed by Chris Dowling, and produced by Chris and his friend Jensen Ackles, it tells the story of an ice cream store mascot, the Clownana, doing his part to repair the crappy rep of those dreaded clowns that nobody wants to look in the eye. He dances, wearing a hybrid banana-clown suit, on the corner of Olive and Beachwood, and yes he is good. It is his calling, his passion, his essence. He is bringing joy to passers-by with his awesome moves. All is peachy until a sex shop opens across the street, sending forth its own dancing mascot in the form of a giant furry dildo. Dildo man is good too. He's real good. And so begins a petty rivalry. As Clownana starts to doubt his purpose in life, he philosophizes like some kind of plushie Voltaire, his faith tested as was Candide's. At his lowest point, provoked by four jerks in a jeep, Ishmael snaps, dragging one of those insufferably smug meatheads out of the car for a throw-down. Well, I'm not going to ruin the glorious ending of this wonderful film for you. High-brow and tongue-in-cheek, "The Plight of Clownana" delivers a little shot of inspiration coupled with more than a dash of absurdity. Camus once said, "The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth." Absurd like clowns, bananas, giant fuzzy penises, dance-offs, street-fighting jocks and...absurd like, well, life.
sadia khan
This is a brilliant work of art and very well put together.. A short but extremely funny film about a dancing Banana and his rival Dildoman.There isn't a dull moment from beginning to end. The music is great,and the characters are hilarious. Together with their incredible choreography and their insanely funny rivalry this movie will have every body on the floor cracking up especially with the little surprises through out the whole film.I recommend everybody with a sense of humor to watch the incredible "Clownana"! I only wish it was longer and most of you will agree once you watch it. Chris Dowling is a genius!!!!!
tek9650
Clownana is, quite simply, one of the funniest short films that I have ever seen! It is very cleverly written and directed by Chris Dowling, who I expect to see much more from in the future. I was fortunate to see this film at the Deep Ellum Film Festival in Dallas and the Century City Film Festival in Los Angeles. In both cases, the audience howled with laughter over the plight of the half-clown, half-banana ice cream store mascot as he battles for sidewalk supremacy over his new nemesis. Told in voice-over narrative by the title character, you understand the ups and downs of this red-nosed yellow mascot. The climax of the film comes during the final dance-off, as the street is only big enough for one store mascot. The audience response went through the roof when Clownana's nemesis introduced his two 'associates' to the proceedings in order to attempt to destroy Clownana completely. The dance sequences were amazing and the soundtrack was a perfect match for the story. An awesome effort for a new writer/director. If you can't catch it on the big screen, you can enjoy it at clownana.com. I highly recommend it.
