‘Paint’ Review – Happy Little Trees, Not So Happy Painter

In this hilarious dark comedy inspired by Bob Ross and his show The Joy of Painting, Owen Wilson brings the laughs as Carl Nargle in Paint. This movie delivers hilarious dry humor while also giving us a somber and meaningful look at love, imperfections and creation.

Carl Nargle is the biggest celebrity in Burlington, Vermont. The soft spoken artist hosts his own hour long painting show that has been running for several seasons, but has slowly started to dwindle in ratings. In order to save the studio, a younger artist is given her own show which phases Carl off the air. Carl must either come to terms with his fading popularity or find a way to immortalize his legacy in this smart, funny and subdued film.

Happy Little Accidents and the Lessons They Teach

The strongest aspect of this film is the lessons it places upon the audience. While the cast is incredibly funny, and Carl’s van is awesomely outdated, and the ambiguous time period is interesting, the real take away is what this movie has to say about people. Bob Ross said that there are no such things as mistakes, only happy little accidents. The film really leans into this idea that we as people are much like one of the many landscape paintings on Bob’s show. We might have these imperfections, but these flaws are what cause people to fall in love with each other and stand apart. If we continue to strive for perfection, we won’t have the time to look around and appreciate the minor flaws that make up life and beauty.

It almost feels a little backwards, that striving for perfection isn’t the goal in life. But when a movie with such warmth and charm tells you to stop and look around and really appreciate those around you, you certainly listen. This movie felt like it wants to let audiences know that life is more about the people around you than the destination. Carl needed to realize that he could never create the perfect painting, and that in trying to do so, he was letting those he cared about slip away.

Just Let Go… And Fall Like A Little Waterfall

What really helps in delivering the film’s message is the overall tone and feel of the movie. The cinematography, lighting and coloring all come together in a way that it feels like you’ve been transported to one of Carl’s paintings. This movie feels so warm and light that when the movie hits you with these emotional beats, they come through much clearer and rather melancholy. You can really get lost in the vibes of this movie, much like Bob Ross’s show.

This is a movie you could imagine watching over and over and never getting tired of its charm and wit. The idea of a “comfort movie” is used more for the sake of nostalgia, but this movie is the literal definition of comfort. The film is calm and soothing and will certainly bring a smile and a laugh to your face. Similar to Bob Ross’s Joy of Painting it pulls you into this cozy trance where all your worries seem to melt away. Then, once it’s over, you’ll want to jump right back in and be taken away to this special place.

The Joy of Paint(ing)

This movie was just wonderful. The script feels tight, smart and poignant at times, but always manages to end on a happy and sincere note. Owen Wilson delivers a great caricature of Bob Ross, while still making the character unique and his own. Ciara Renée Harper will be a fan favorite as she brings so much joy and life to the film. And everyone who worked on this film brings so much to the screen that you can feel the passion. Anyone who wants to laugh and just feel good definitely should check out this movie when it comes to theaters.

Paint will debut in theaters beginning April 7, 2023 courtesy of IFC Films. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9TX-6HyuOc]