LolliLove (2004)

My Movie Starring Paul Dano—written and directed by Joe Bartone— is an absurdist, campy mockumentary about the challenges of indie filmmaking.

While watching My Movie Starring Paul Dano, I was reminded of the first time I saw Lollilove, especially how that movie feels like a group of friends making a mockumentary about Hollywood. 

One of my favorite aspects of My Movie Starring Paul Dano is its blend of illustrations and dream sequences within its mockumentary structure. As the script is written, we are shown how the movie Bear Naked Amazonians From Mars looks in Herman’s head, with all its retro b movie campy charm.

The indie film Slash about the world of fanfiction and campy sci-fi includes a similar blend of reality and fiction. These moments in My Movie Starring Paul Dano are filled with absurd charm that veers into the sexist undertones of old genre films in a way that feels intentional and understanding, painting a picture of how the film industry isn’t as different as we think from the days of prehistoric babes in futuristic bikinis.