Hey folks, Harry here for Edison & Monki's closet exit about their experience together to PUCKER UP! And their post-coital comedy trip this SXSW! Sounds cool, but I wouldn't trade my evening for anything!

Monki and Edison here again with a quick review of a gem of a documentary we caught today on the fourth day of SXSW.  

We missed out on the screening of Hooligans today because Edison was busy working on some new-fangled moving pictures projecting device, but we did manage to get downtown in time for a documentary I wanted to catch called Pucker Up.   

Pucker Up is a fun piece about the International Whistling Competition held in Louisburg, North Carolina.  To sum it up into words, this is a real life Christopher Guest movie.  Great characters moved this fun story around nicely.  We have the bird caller from Florida, the straight-laced investment banker, the straight and narrow preacher-like guy and even a social worker from the Netherlands.  

This movie really makes you appreciate the art of whistling and the way this form of music can be used.  I believe this would make an excellent double feature with the documentary Breath Control (about beatboxing).  

After the film was over, two of the gentlemen in the film were kind enough to provide some examples of their amazing talents.  If you get a chance, check this one out.  

We had a nice break after that and eventually ended up at the Comedians of Comedy live show down on Sixth Street at Emos.  The place was packed full of people and we were treated with a great set of comedy from Patton, Brian, Zach and Maria.  SXSW has had four nights so far, and the end of every night has been concluded with me laughing until the muscles in my cheeks hurt.  I can’t wait until my face is ripped.   

-Monki

Here's Edison for his side of the smooch...

Hello, one and all. Before I get to the review, I offer a reminder: I don’t promise to tell you the synopsis of any movies I review at SXSW. In fact, I rarely do. That’s the joy of discovery, do a little internet research, or just read Monki’s review. He likes to be wordy. And now…  

PUCKER UP

Imagine if Frank Capra had made a documentary about whistling. Even if you don’t particularly like whistling, there’s a palpable small town charm to Pucker Up. This is a very nice, very safe flick. It’s easy to like all of the people examined here, and you may even pick one or two of them to root for, but in the end it’s all very low stakes. It’s so sweet and innocent that there’s nobody to root against. Even when they spend a few quick minutes on the “dark side” of whistling (yeah, that’s what it said), there’s no sense of danger or importance. And that’s fine, not every film should need to be a thrill ride. If it sounds at all interesting, give it a chance. You may enjoy it. Just don’t bring your dog.

Edison’s score:  inspiration: 72%     perspiration:  76%  

Hope to bring you more tomorrow. Intercom broken, please pull around to order.

-Edison