Intrigued by the picture in the film booklet of a nerdy looking couple dressed as a nappy Eagle and muppetesque Shark, I eagerly booked tickets. The New Zealand Napoleon Dynamite, Eagle is the story of Lily, a fast food employee with a crush on Jarrod, a regular customer and video game shop attendant. After inviting herself to Jarrod’s animal theme party and putting up an impressive show in video gaming skills, the two embark in the most awkward and unsexy sex scene I have ever witnessed. Obsessed with getting revenge with his high school tormentor, Jarrod, hitching a ride with Lily, goes back to his home town to settle the score.

Bordering on absurd and uncomfortable for the whole duration of the film, the slow pace and incredible social awkwardness makes Napoleon a very obvious cousin. Eagle, however, outshines its Idaho relative with a core of loss and understanding that, while not explaining its characters makes them remarkably complex. Funny and charming, I would strongly recommend seeing this film and would keep an eye out for Cohen’s next effort in the hopes that some of the mish-mash elements employed here (the claymation apples) get let on the edit room floor next time.