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The Art of Self-Defense Makes A Menacing Joke Of Toxic Masculinity
You probably think you can kick Jesse Eisenberg’s ass. Which makes him perfectly cast as the protagonist of The Art of Self-Defense, a dark comedy exploring the allure and dangers of toxic masculinity. Writer/director Riley Stearns applies a crisp and dark sense of humor to a low-key thriller about one man’s quest to become the thing that scares him most: a man’s man.
Casey Davies (Eisenberg) is a nebbish, lonely loser who is almost cripplingly intimidated by other men. He sees his every failing as one of masculinity, or lack thereof. He’s a pushover who shrinks from confrontation, cries in his car, and spends his nights with a puny (though charming) dachshund. His is a life of quiet, aching desperation, until it gets worse. After being ambushed, mugged, and savagely beaten by a masked gang of bikers, Casey is determined to change. So he turns to kung fu and the dubious lessons of the local Sensei (Alessandro Nivola).
Entering into the dojo, Casey is instantly enchanted by the muscular men who are strong and confident in their movements, by the rules on the wall that dictate decorum (and no shoes on the mat), and by the pretty but stern instructor Anna (Imogen Poots). But most of all, he is enchanted by Sensei, whose black belt and steely machismo promises the secrets to a masculinity Casey believes will save him from pain, isolation, and self-doubt. And indeed, the dojo offers Casey an instant injection of self-esteem, a…
