I haven't seen a movie plot this unique in a while. In Downsizing a scientist learns how to shrink people for environmental reasons and it becomes an industry. The shrunken people even have their own mini village called "Leisure Land" hehe. Matt Damon plays Paul Safranek who gets shrunken (to 12.5cm) and then goes on a whirlwind adventure, finding himself along the way. Matt Damon usually does action films but he is now equally at home with light drama and comedy. Paul's wife Audrey (played wonderfully by Kristen Wiig) decides last minute that she won't go through the treatment and leaves Paul depressed, all alone in Leisure land. Paul's eccentric neighbour Dusan is played well by Christophe Waltz). The scientist, Dr Jorgen Asbornsen, is played well by Rolf Laasguard.
"There are some hilarious scenes through out the whole movie. When the shrunken people chat to the normal sized people (e.g. when they're at dinner) it's very funny hehehe"In the lab, after they have shrunken the patients, they use a little spatula to move the tiny people into the next room hehe. When Paul awakens after the procedure they give him a biscuit except the biscuit is massive (full real size) and they roll it into the room, the nurse was just joking around HAHAHA. Through out the movie people keep on mispronouncing Paul's last name (Safranek) as "Safronic" and this ticks him off hehe. There are a lot of silly jokes like this through out the movie but you have to pay attention.
Paul becomes friend's with Dusan, his neighbour, hilariously played by Christophe Waltz.
"Christophe Waltz has made a habit of creating eccentric characters and Dusan is no exception. He is a scene stealer, his look and dialogue is goofy and hilarious"Dusan throws a house party and those scenes are fun. The morning after Paul meets Dusan's asian cleaner (Ngok Lan Tran played excellently by Hong Chau). Most of Paul's interaction with Dusan and Ngok Lan Tran is hilarious. Paul, who was a work safety supervisor in the big real world, accidentally break's Ngok's prosthetic foot whilst trying to fix it. He then is forced to join her cleaning team because she can't work! Paul later falls for Ngok.
Dusan wants to go to Norway on his boat. The three of them decide to go on a whim. The movie turns into an adventure from this point and that's what I love about it. You see beautiful landscapes on this boat trip. On their voyage they meet the original scientist that invented shrinking. The scientist, Dr Jorgen, is goofy and silly. He has some bad news; it's going to be the end of the world due to environmental reasons. The scientist and his community of shrunken people have created a volt underground place that would survive such a catastrophe.
Paul must decide to stay back or join them in the Vault. In one of the funniest scenes in the whole movie when Paul has to decide whether to stay or go, Ngok asks Paul "What kind of a F* you give me?... pitty F*, love F*, sex F*" hehehe. Paul doesn't end up going into the Vault and then replies to her "It was a love F*!" hahaha.
"This movie has a lot of twists and turns and I love the way that new characters join in along the way. It is an odyssey type movie where people learn about themselves"There are too many small jokes and dead pan humourous moments to list them all but if you pay attention you'll laugh out loud. These funny moments arise because sometimes the plot takes really serious turns, then they hit you with unexpected one liners. The plot of the movie is very innovative and intriguing. You don't see movies like this too often.
The side characters were very interesting, wonderful acting.
"Well done to Matt Damon who carried the film well. I never knew Matt could be so funny. He is now excelling in comedy/drama movies"This movie also has concepts to do with the environment and over population which I found captivating. But what I love the most about this movie is that it showed plenty of heart. What a memorable and funny 2hrs 15min.