Review

Considering Chuck Palahniuk's immense, cult-like following of rabid fans, always hungry for his next offering of cleverly repetitious prose, it's surprising that Choke is only the second of his novels to become a feature film (after Fight Club, of course). Actor/writer/director Clark Gregg has taken on the arduous duty of adapting the beloved novel for the big screen while keeping Palahniuk’s fans happy. Though the final product contains many omissions, additions and general alterations throughout – and the tone is much lighter than a die-hard Choke fan might expect – this charming flick, rife with demented humor and perfect comic delivery, succeeds on its own merit.

Sam Rockwell plays Victor Mancini, a lackadaisical sex-addict who was raised by his radical wild-child mother, Ida (Angelica Houston), between stints in foster care. Now that Ida suffers from Alzheimer’s, Victor pays for her hospital care by working at a Colonial theme park during the day - oh, and by choking on food at restaurants to solicit rescue and monetary donations from wealthy-looking patrons at night.

During a fleeting moment of lucidity, Ida confesses that she has been keeping a shocking secret about the true identity of Victor’s biological father. With the aid of Denny (Brad William Henke), his chronically masturbating best friend, and Dr. Paige Marshall (the always adorable Kelly Macdonald), his mother’s physician, Victor uses highly unorthodox tactics to uncover the truth about his origins - which may be more divine than he ever would have imagined.

You can expect that any film that features sex-addiction as a prominent theme will not skimp on the tits and ass. Choke does not dissapoint. There are some uproriously funny sex scenes. Also be prepared to fall head over heels in lust with Gillian Jacobs and her glorious tits. She plays Cherry Daquiri, a stripper who seems as intelligent as plywood, but proves herself a philosophical idiot savant on matters related to Christ. Oh, and Bijou Phillips is dressed like a Colonial wench... need I say more?

 -- Robert O'Neill