A mix of sci-fi and drama, ‘Linoleum’ delivers the story of Cameron - a middle aged children’s science show host who tries to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut. A series of bizarre events occur, causing Cameron to reassess his perception of reality.
After witnessing a freakish car accident, Cameron relays the tale to his family. Much to his daughter (Nora) and wife’s (Erin) chagrin, the two remain skeptical and unimpressed. A few days later a part of a space probe hits their back yard, rendering the house a scene of investigation, forcing the family out.
On receiving news that his TV show has been picked up by PBS, Cameron is forced from his show as host and replaced by the man, his doppelgänger, Kent Armstrong that he had seen earlier in the bizarre car accident. Disillusioned, Cameron takes to constructing his own rocket by salvaging the crashed space probe in his back yard.
At the same time, Nora befriends a new student in her class, - Marc. The two confide in each other and form a kinship through understating they are both outcasts. After getting in trouble at school, Marc is scorned by his father, Kent, and Nora is reprimanded by Erin. Meanwhile, Cameron also visits with his father Mac, and invites him to live back at home rather than his retirement facility.
In receiving a job offer, Erin goes to confront Cameron about leaving, as the two had initiated divorce proceedings as well. In reassessing their affairs however, Erin joins Cameron in completing the rocket.
In preparation for launch after construction, Erin confronts Cameron about launch, revealing Cameron and Erin to have been reliving their past memories, with Erin reminding Cameron of their time together as Nora and Marc, with Cameron actually being Mac at present.
Erin and Cameron get in the rocket in preparation for launch as Mac is loaded into an ambulance due to declining health, reliving his time as Marc, remembering a fateful Halloween night during which his father had tried to run him over with a car, allowing him to emotionally accept what had happened.
‘Linoleum’ initially presents a quirky science fiction fare, introducing a somewhat malcontent and restless Cameron. Fearing not to have achieved something exceptional or fantastic during his lifetime, the man takes the opportunity and salvages the crashed space probe in his backyard and constructs a rocket of his own.
Serving as a prelude to the emotionally charged climax of the film, the use of surreal occurrences and the seemingly unorthodox flow of events, ‘Linoleum’ manages to make the best use of both worlds, presenting an engaging family drama and peppering in just enough eccentricity to keep the audience guessing as to what may transpire next.
Anchoring the film as Cameron Edwin (and Kent Armstrong) is Jim Gaffigan, presenting the image of a man afraid and anxious of his legacy. Gaffigan takes what could have been a one note presentation of malaise and turns it into a sympathetic and affable expression of understanding of the human condition. Fighting relentlessly to leave behind something memorable, Cameron in turn has to muster up the courage and strength to remember his own past.
Along side Gaffigan is Rhea Seehorn, playing Cameron’s wife Erin. Serving as the voice of reason and rationality, Seehorn delivers the straight man alongside Gaffigan’s Cameron. As the story develops however, layers to Seehorn’s Erin uncover underlying and unyielding care and love for her spouse, resulting in a moving and multifaceted performance.
As an added bonus to the already stellar cast performance is Tony Shalhoub, playing Dr. Alvin. Only present in a couple of scenes, the actor provides for a unique and surprisingly off-kilter accompaniment to the film, further confounding viewers as to the crux of the story and facilitating the intrigue surrounding Cameron’s story.
‘Linoleum’ shoots for the moon and establishes what could have been a memorable, small oddball sci-fi flick, introducing complex characters with rich inner worlds. Where the film exceeds in expectations is in its third act, - delivering a gut punch of sorts and revealing its true nature as a small and contained private drama of a couple dealing with degenerative brain disease, both trying to retain and enjoy the remnants of their shared past. Through striving to leave behind an impactful legacy, 'Linoleum' invites its viewers to reassess what we as individuals attach value to and what matters.
Score: 3/4
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