This really cute Coming-of-Age movie set in the Eighties helped solidify how much I enjoy seeing Rainn Wilson in about anything. Before you ask, I’ve barely watched the American version of The Office. I have no opinion of it, thus, I am neutral about the SitCom. What made me like Wilson more was his portrayal of Star Trek‘s Harry Mudd, his Podcast Dark Air with Terry Carnation (very funny) and he’s a very encouraging person to all with his Twitter account. I think he’s also a generous, supporting actor by letting Kira McLean and Patricia Arquette have their own comedic moments.
Permanent was also a story I completely related to because it’s about starting all over in a new community far from the one you grew up in and all during an awkward age, puberty. Having socially awkward parents doesn’t help neither. Being set during 1982 compounded how much I really felt the main character’s pain too; it was the year my family moved from Springfield, IL to the crazy, out-of-control, sprawling Houston.
The overall premise is focuses on the Dicksons and the changes they all have to overcome individually and as a family. After a long career in the Air Force as the head steward on Air Force One, dad (Jim) is using his vet benefits to attend college with hopes of becoming a doctor. He just has one mental obstacle stopping him from passing his PE requirement, a swim class. Jim isn’t afraid of drowning nor is he a bad swimmer. He fears his toupee coming off. Mom (Jeanne) is more upset over several matters: Jim no longer wants her romantically, she misses all perks they had when they were stationed at Andrews AFB and the pressure of being the bread winner is getting to her as she’s the only non-student in their household, so money’s tight. Lastly comes Aurelie, the Dickson’s daughter. Being 1982 and her desire to fit in with the other girls, she asks her parents for a permanent, or a “perm” for short. They were very popular then, especially with all the feathering. Thanks to those money issues mentioned earlier, Aurelie has it done by a beauty school student and as the photo above shows…it didn’t go well. Now she’s off to a horrible start as the “new kid with the poodle hair.”
From here, check Permanent out and see how the Dicksons work through their struggles while trying to repair their familial bonds.
The performances from the trio are excellent. The comedy is subtle, not exaggerated, over-the-top wackiness period pieces or personal memoirs tend to have. Rainn is a plausible, vain guy with a bad rug. Arquette made great efforts to look rather dumpy. Kira is the best in her valid reactions for someone undergoing such teen trials and tribulations. The sites and set pieces are quite accurate and subtle. Permanent avoids one of my biggest peeves brought on by the shitty overrated The Wedding Singer, it doesn’t use glaring background, props and details screaming to the audience, “Look! It’s the Eighties!”. No soundtrack with the same crap we’ve heard a million times, New Order’s “Blue Monday,” I’m looking right at you! No neon-colored clothes on every other cast member. No mullets, mohawks nor Flock of Seagulls’ haircuts. No Rubik’s cubes and ET crap lying around the Dickson’s living room. The director, producers and crew let the story drive the movie for a change.
Currently, Permanent can be viewed on Hulu until further notice and I highly recommend watching it. If you’re a member of Generation X like me, it may make you smile, especially if you shared an upbringing similar to Aurelie’s and mine.