Yes, it's is a quirky little flick. And yes, it may unnerve (or perhaps irritate) some viewers. But there is no doubt it carves it's own path, and a fairly unique one - which isn't easy to do nowadays.

I'll start by saying that it's a very funny movie at times - in an awkward sort of way. And I enjoyed it just on that level. But after it was over it I realized it had a much more impressive affect on me.

It probably won't be obvious until the end that there was a lot of care put into the direction and dialogue of this movie. Characters who on the surface seem broken and wayward end up being not much different from you and me. Their delivery is different but their longings are the same. And the director did an ace job of making that point. It's done subtly and he timed the peeks into each character's nature perfectly. It really is a very skillful little movie.

If you come across it, check it out, and don't abandon it after five minutes because it seems too odd. It's well worth the run and I'm pleased I saw it, almost thankful actually.

I read the novel this film was based upon, back when it was a gift from the author, a family friend. I found myself mentally casting actors to play the amazingly quirky but identifiable characters. A great amount of time passed before "Small Apartments" found its way into the hands of a director who "got it".

I have to say that it is difficult, for me, not to compare this work to that of Tarantino, if only for the raw emotional concept, quirky behaviors and "street view" filming process. However, the combination of Millis (who wrote both the novel and the screenplay) and Akerlund (the director) bring the dark side of everyday humanity into perfect view without glorifying the gore and violence so many filmmakers succumb to. The violence is acceptable, even necessary, as are the few sexual scenes that lend credence to the story and personalities that make up this labor of love. Tarantino's got absolutely nothing on these guys!

The cast is, well... correct! I can't imagine anyone other than the "heavyweights" who breathe life into characters like Franklin Franklin (Matt Lucas), Burt Walnut (Billy Crystal) and Tommy Balls (Johnny Knoxville) but it doesn't stop there. You've got the talent of James Caan, Amanda Plummer, Juno Temple, Dolph Lundgren and veritable unknown, Scott Sheldon, who makes his few moments as Officer Smith a lasting impression. The casting list is mighty and recognizable, but these folks were drawn to the characters created by Millis and the vision of Akerlund, rather than a paycheck.

There is a story, one that compels us to realize how little we understand one another in this all too short existence on the planet and lays bare our preconceptions and misconceptions of who we see and how we react and assign personal judgement. You don't need to be a "deep thinker" to get this film and that's the beauty of it.

The old saying that "money can't buy happiness" is true and untrue... both are addressed in Small Apartments, however, it brings home the very real point that true happiness lives in our mind, however small or large!

I was both eager and apprehensive about finally watching this film, especially knowing the author, screenplay writer and executive producer (Chris Millis) on a personal level... I'm so glad I gave in to eager! Bravo! This is a must see!

I rented this movie from a Redbox, for something amusing to watch on a night off from work. Instead, I found it to be a psychological cross section of character studies of people I don't get to see much in films, or life, for that matter.

It's not a film for everyone. The characters are people who would be considered the lowlifes by most folks in our society. These characters are those that are the broken, the cast offs, the castaways, the hopeless. But these people have their own dreams and dignities, that we may scoff at, but are what keep them going.

Matt Lucas brings a kind of innocent goofiness to his character, Franklin Franklin. His brother was taking care of him up until a year before. When you take Franklin's behavior, and then other certain scenes together, you may conclude that he has a mental illness of some kind. That said, it changed my empathy for his character very much.

Why Franklin finds himself in the dilemma of disposing of his landlord's dead body comes as a surprise, and as he goes about it, the viewer comes to know Franklin better.

There is some wonderful star power in this movie, and they shine subtly, but brilliantly. The music is spot on for the scenes and the direction and editing are perfection.

In the end, there are some repetitions that are silly and some patterns that are interesting. And the twist at the end is great. It's a long way to Switzerland!

This film is amazing.

Don't let the fact that it is coming straight to DVD in many places put you off.

Each actor was perfectly cast (in my opinion)... even Johnny Knoxville who I have never rated, or really thought of as an actor, was brilliant.

Its a Dark Comedy that slowly unravels whilst keeping you on the edge of your seat the entire time before ending perfectly.

I did almost give this film 9 out of 10 but when I thought about it, I couldn't think of a single thing that would lose this film any marks.

I saw it in redbox and who was in it - It took a few runs to redbox before I rented.

In the first 15+ minutes I think we just sat there with our mouths open unsure what to think.

It was not enough to punch the eject but - Wow that character is weird is all I will say.

By movie's end I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised, a very good movie that held my interest all the way through.

This is not a bad rent - give it a shot and wait for it to develop. It will not disappoint.

I don't use the word "film" often. I use it when something has moved into the art category and out of the commercial movie world.

Now, with that out of the way, I originally thought to rate this movie a 7.

"So why the bump to 9?" I hear you ask yourself... The reason is quite simple. Small Apartments has stayed with me since watching it.

The film is unnerving and will make most squirm while they watch it. However, like a bad relationship, you'll remember the experience long after you finished with it.

The best part is that Small Apartments is FUNNY. You don't need to be looking for a deeper meaning while watching it... it delivers that intravenously while you're laughing. Only later will you realize it's found its way into your system.

I would recommend this for anyone 18 or older that's looking for an entertaining work of art.

The movie in question is a 2012 American black comedy directed by a famous video maker (Jonas Åkerlund) and tells the story of an odd obese Switzerland-fan (Franklin Franklin, distinguishably performed by Matt Lucas) who inadvertently kills his landlord. All the characters - in spite of their rank in society - are strange zanies, and even if briefly on screen, they are catchy thanks to good/distinctive actors such as James Caan, Johnny Knoxville, Billy Crystal, James Marsden, Peter Stormare, Amanda Plummer, Dolph Lundgren - first and foremost.

Apart from crazy moments and depictions, the plot contains several "correct" views on love, friendship, family relations etc, making it hectic and uneven at times, and there are some ending predictability related to the protagonist and bad guys. But as the movie is not long (around 1,5 hours), it is still catchy to watch and you will have your laughs and chuckles.

This movie is weird and disturbing movie when it starts but by the end it proves true to the purpose it is intended to have. The lives of the residents of an apartment building change when the owner is accidentally killed by one of the inhabitant. It take a while to get the hang of the pulse of the movie and it requires a lot of patience. The main protagonist is a loner and a voyeur who misses his ill(mentally) brother from whom he gets his taped messages. Meanwhile he is trying to dispose off the dead body of the owner.

You do not fall in love with its characters or empathize with them but it definitely scares you to see their lives and you pray not to end up like them. But there are few moments when you feel sad for the people portrayed who are stuck in their little world and have distant hopes of escape from it. This movie forces you to confront or at least acknowledge the alienation,apathy,and surrender of some in the modern society who live on it fringe with little expectation of any worthwhile impact on anyone's life other than their own. But still it leaves you with a nice little message about forgiveness , family and the meaning of a well lived life.

You are not going to remember this movie for long but it's decently directed eerie movie for a select few who are patient enough to take a lesson home.

PS: Watch at your own risk.Either you will hate it or you will applaud the efforts for such a real depiction of lives in small apartments!

Clumsy deadbeat Franklin Franklin (Matt Lucas) accidentally kills his landlord. He must do everything in his power to hide the body. He finds the distractions of lust, the death of his beloved brother and a crew of misfit characters, forcing him on a journey where a fortune awaits him.

This is one weird movie. Matt Lucas is a weird white blob of a guy in his tighty whiteys. Juno Temple has a great scene. Dolph Lundgren looks super weird. Just how weird is this? Johnny Knoxville is probably the least weird person in the movie. Add in Rebel Wilson, and this is one weird L.A. apartments complex. Did I say how weird this was? OK then.

I cant believe no one has reviewed this film- so hard to "label" this one. I can tell you it is a bit "left field" and goes along with "life is stranger than fiction", it is not action packed, it is steady , plodding ,testing your loyalty, weighing you. trying to see if you are worthy of the message this movie delivers,-Literally - the filmmakers have given you life's meaning, spelled out word for word, in a crappy little semi-comedy, on the surface that's what this film is ... but, I'll bet you a dollar, this film makes you cry.

The main character spends the whole film in his underwear, and Johnny Knoxville does a great job of breaking his typecast in this,

I cant say this movie is like ..it's not like anything i can think of...maybe kinda has the same feel and pace as "spun", it is not like anything i have seen, it is a twisted tale of human interaction, told from an unwitting standpoint... and if you are like me , you will be sucker punched with the second half of this movie, you WILL be moved , and if you don't cry, I owe you a dollar-- I think this movie changed me--

I went into watching this movie expecting another indie drama with a big ensemble cast and just enough quirk to be cool with the hipsters. Turns out, this is probably one of the best movies I've seen in years. The plot revolves around Franklin Franklin, a bizarre man living alone in well, a small apartment, and his interactions and excursion with his various neighbors. I completely understand the negative reviews from critics, because the movie isn't perfect, There is some bizarre writing and story choices that might not bode well with audiences, but I honestly think that this movie is, in a way, a masterpiece. The characters all start off weird and somewhat repulsive, but as the movie progresses you begin understanding them and you begin to feel for them. There is rarely a movie that made me feel as much for the characters as I did in this movie. The reason for that is that the acting was fantastic, everyone played their character greatly, and there were little to no weaker parts to the performances. To wrap up, I highly recommend it if you can deal with some weird and bizarre, It's all worth it in the end.

This movie is not a traditional hero conquers oppressive forces finds love with an out of his league chic then acquires instant fame flick.

From the beginning, seeing the main character, Franklin Franklin, how he dresses- various wigs and tight white under drawers (which is pretty much how I imagine all bloggers, except me, dress at home), it is clear that this movie is quite different.

75% of the film has the main character in those tight white under drawers. Not long after the opening credits, he has to dispose of a body, gets tricked by a mean teenage girl, and keeps blowing on an alp-horn when he needs to check out for a bit.

There are many interesting aspects to this film, not the least of which is the fact that it is based on the winning novel of a three day novel writing contest.

The performances of Matt Lucas, James Caan and the especially lovely toned-down Billy Crystal make this an extremely worth while watch or even a keeper.

What a fresh exciting and entertaining movie to have stumbled upon. I was stuck in a hotel room and having never heard of it, my interest was piqued once I saw James Marsden starring. Funnily enough he had starred in similar surprise movie, "Interstate 60", also well worth a watch. I can't grasp why the IMDb score is only 6.1. The story is an engaging, super black comedy. Acting is great, Matt Lucas is superb as Franklin Franklin, a slightly mentally challenged loner who longs for his much cooler brother's affection. Most of the humor stems from Franklin Franklins apparent lack of awareness of how the world works; probably having been previously sheltered from his now incarcerated brother (Marsden). The movie unflinchingly moves from sadness to hilarity and back in matters of minutes. I managed to catch this movie prior to seeing the trailer, which was a good idea. Having since seen the trailer, I think it is a real spoiler to where the film is going to take you. Much better to go into this one with out a clue about what will happen next. This gets an overwhelming yes from me and my partner.

What a bizarre but delightful little movie! It's a weird dark comedy with a fine performance by all the actors. If you like odd plot lines and characters with attention grabbing antics and dialog - this is your movie because it is perfectly told.

I only found this treasure because I was looking for movies with Juno Temple. Had never heard of this flick and after reading the other actors names I certainly had to give this a look!

At a certain point in the story you can guess what will happen to Franklin Franklin but the charm of this film is how the story gets you there. And on the way you will have numerous surprises!

A good movie!

That is a question only you can answer. We have to root for a character that has more than one flaw though. Not that other characters portrayed in this movie are without any flaws or doubts themselves. But while it's an ensemble piece our big friend is the one who's playing front and center (tonally and picture wise).

You sometimes wish some characters would have gotten more screen time, like the landlord, who has some very funny but also very offensive things and lines to do in the movie. And while it seems that some of the things are aimed at our protagonist, it's still not the best and smartest decisions he is making during the course of his journey. Dolph Lundgren seems to have fun, but his character could have been fleshed out more. A nice little odd movie then

If you relish the quirkiness of "Juno", "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and "Little Miss Sunshine", then you have to see this movie. I won't go into the detail of the plot line as there are plenty of reviews on that already, but if you relish the out of the ordinary compared to the typical Hollywood fare, then watch this movie. You won't be disappointed. Very funny and at times, very touching. All the actors put in great performances and sometimes it's not about the big "stars" you can attract or how many explosions you can create. This movie is about the story, and the lives of the characters within the story.

This is one of my most favorite movies.

A quirky story, one to be enjoyed through multiple viewings. The surprises are in the cast and their contributions to this.

While Matt Lucas is wonderful as the white-underpants clad protagonist, it is the others around him that really shine.

Some delightful cameos from many famous and deserving actors, but special mention must go to James Caan as Mr Allspice, Billy Crystal in a great role where he performs understatedly, Dolph Lundgren, Peter Stormare and most especially Johnny Knoxville for his superlative performance as Tommy Balls. Before this, I never knew he could act so well.

This is gentle and subversive humor at it's best. And Weirdest.

I highly recommend this movie

I love this movie. Yes, the first 15 minutes catch you wondering if it is headed anywhere interesting. It is at least quite quirky and keeps you involved.

However, as the film progresses, you learn about the various characters and realize it has much deeper meaning and dialog. The movie just gets better and better until an ending which anybody has to love. This is a movie that sticks and will have you thinking about it long afterwards.

The lowly rating on this has me thinking that people just didn't see anything in the first 5 minutes to keep them going. I guess they bail before anything happens.

This movie has strange characters played by interesting choice of actors. It keeps you enthralled because you want to see how their persona's are involved in the main story. The main story follows a man named Franklin Franklin. (Not a typo) he has to deal with the body of his dead landlord sitting in his apartment. Franklin's character comes across to me as a simpleton. Every time Franklins neighbors ask if the has seen the landlord he just blatantly says that he's dead on the floor, but nobody delves further into the claim. They simply take it as sarcasm. Franklin gets a letter from his brother everyday and then the day came where a letter didn't. Franklin thinks about his time with his brother. It shows flashbacks of him and his brother infatuated with a self help author with claims of mental help. All in all, you should watch this movie. (I don't want to spoil it for anyone even though I put spoilers in the message) It was entertaining and has surprisingly tear jerking moments with great messages on life.

i liked the movie, the story is great! despite the fact that the book was written in a 3 day contest it also is a great mixture of comedy (very dark humor), a little bit of drama and at last but not least it has a massage hidden and in the end outspoken... so its not a big surprise with the ending little bit to predictable, but for a novel its OK. i didn't really like little Britain and was a bit sceptical about the movie, but mr. lucas proved me wrong! he took a little from the series with him and did a great job! lundgren is a surprise, don't want to tell spoilers but i really loved his character and the style in which he was presented (specially the colours!) knoxville was OK and fitted perfectly into what he was expected in his character, not that kind of skilled acting needed i think the director put the novel into what it should be, a really good adopted movie! the story lines are not really merged but the fact that maybe one can find oneself in some of the characters is interesting sometimes you think its getting boring, but in the end you will definitely enjoy it!

I have to say Knoxville does a swell job in this part, as does Crystal. Some of the most humorous lines come from him. Yes, this movie can make you uncomfortable, since watching mealy, weak people get beaten up is never too much fun, but I could sense something good was going to happen to Matt Lucas. The story isn't bad either. Though I would not go to a theater to see this, I would rent the DVD. James Caan does well with his smallish part too. I think some people really do live like this and are just as critical of their neighbors without really knowing them. I think it really is possible in some places in the world to walk around in your underwear and not really have anyone notice.

This movie has quite a cast for a straight to DVD movie. And it's a bizarre black comedy, that has the right amount of bizarre and comedy to it with some serious situations. The plot revolves around a overweight and diabetic guy named Franklin Franklin(yeah two of the same name for his first and last name) that is bald, walks around in his underwear and isn't the brightest guy while also being addicted to a beverage called Moxie. But still is a likable dude that has dreams of going to Switzerland and has love for his brother Bernard who is the quick-witted one that writes to him. And when there is a dead landlord in his apartment the story takes off from there. With couple of other different and a bit bizarre characters getting involved. It's cool how all the character connect when it comes to the plot and the warped but not over the top interactions is amusing to listen to. It even goes into direction I wasn't really expecting close to the end. Overall this is one of the good black comedy to go straight to DVD.

8/10

This movie out Lebowski's The Big Lebowski. It's that kind of oddball comedy drama. Originally drawn to it because I'm a fan of Per Gessle who does the soundtrack, after watching it I was pleasantly surprised at what a little gem of a movie it is. And what a stellar cast who all shine in their respective parts. Thankyou Netflix for giving me the ability to watch it. Its quirky, dark, humorous, wry, self aware and very random in the kind of way that life is. Not for the prudish or fainthearted though. I can only think that the people who have ranked this so low have not experienced enough of the ups and downs of life to get it. Innocence prevails!

'Small apartments' is all about its presentation. What we see is a pretty uninteresting story, told to us in a slightly dark, moody, nevertheless humorous, and - in any case - highly original way.

This presentation surely makes 'Small apartments' an unusual film. A good watch, however, for the dullness of the plot is more than compensated by its flawless high-quality acting.

In spite of all this, what remains after wards is a slight feeling of dissatisfaction. With a better plot 'Small apartments' would easily have been at the top.

Unfortunately this is not achieved, so we have to be content with an excellently acted, slightly surrealistic and doubtless original package.

When a clumsy deadbeat accidentally kills his landlord, he must do everything in his power to hide the body.

But the distractions of lust, the death of his beloved brother, and a crew of misfit characters, force him on a journey where a fortune awaits him......

Well there is no doubt that its one of the most bizarre films that I've seen in a very long time, and if your not a fan of Akurland and his narrative flow, you probably won't like this.

But the wealth of characters in this film, and the way that they are handled, as well as carrying the main protagonists narrative, is very impressive.

The fact that you care about every single character, as well as follow a flashback narrative, and the present narrative, takes some doing, and he pulls it off.

The first and second acts are the best, and they are a fascinating insight into the human psyche, with the individuals dealing with different stages of emotion, and barriers.

But the last act loses its way, and although Lucas is a good actor, he just cannot carry the film in his own.

But the film is well worth seeing, and Lundgren hasn't been this good in forever.