"Welcome to Marwen" (2018) Review

 “Welcome to Marwen” turns an intriguing story into one hot mess.

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 1:56

Review by: Livi Edmonson

Based on a true story, “Welcome to Marwen” follows artist Mark Hogancamp (Steve Carell), after he is brutally attacked by a group of hateful men. As a result of the hate crime, Mark lost every single one of his memories from before the attack, and even the attack still remains rather fuzzy to him. When he learns that he can no longer hold a pen long enough to write his own name, Mark has to find a way to be an artist in a different art form. He creates a lively art installation that portrays his imaginary, escapist life in a town called “Marwen”. 

In this town lives the dolls inspired by influential women in Mark’s life post-attack and they protect him from brutal hardships. Eventually gaining the courage and strength to face the men who attacked him in court, Mark finds that his imagination can heal him in ways he never imagined.  

There is quite an A-list cast in this film, including Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, and Diane Kruger to name a few. It is easy to see why actors would be drawn to this type of project because not only is Robert Zemeckis the critically-acclaimed director of “Forrest Gump” (1994) and even “Back to the Future” (1985), but also the story behind the film seems to be so compelling that it would be a privilege to see such a wondrous, “out-there” kind of film. Well, the film definitely is “out-there” to say the very least and I don’t mean this in a positive way…

As someone who loves every type of film, even some of the strangest, most bizarre ones, I found “Welcome to Marwen” extremely messy and too fantasy-like for a drama. Trust me, I really wanted to love this film and the trailer had me thinking that it could have possibly received Oscar buzz, but then I saw its Rotten Tomatoes score of a 26% and these thoughts of mine were quickly whisked away. Is it bad to say that it probably only received a 26% because it had Steve Carell in it? If you ask me, it deserved an even lower score. 

All in all, the intentions for “Welcome to Marwen” and its fascinating real-life protagonist were great until the movie actually started. The result of the film came across as dark and solemn instead of earnest and enchanting like all of the trailers and various advertisements swayed it to be. When I see a movie advertised as “inspiring” or “lovable” I expect it to be those two things and nothing less. I left the theater feeling empty and confused. Who wants that after spending a whopping $9 on a movie ticket? Not me. I give it a 3/10.