Movie Review: 'Linoleum' is Time Twisting Trip
Jim Gaffigan and Rhea Seahorn are a unique romantic pairing in Linoleum.
Linoleum (2023)
Directed by Colin West
Written by Colin West
Starring Jim Gaffigan, Rhea Seahorn. Katelyn Nacon
Release Date February 24th, 2023
Published February 18th, 2023
Linoleum stars Jim Gaffigan as Cameron, a scientist, and the star of a failing children's television show. Cameron dreams of being an astronaut and as we join the story, he's sending in an application to NASA. And then a corvette falls out of the sky. Inside the car is what looks like a younger, slightly better-looking version of Cameron. Later, he relates the story to his family, including his soon-to-be ex-wife, Erin (Rhea Seahorn), and his loving if capricious daughter, Nora (Katelyn Nacon). Cameron also has a son but I am not even sure he's in the credits for the film, he exists to be indifferent to his father and the story in motion around him.
Cameron's basement man-cave is stocked with NASA memorabilia which we see as Cameron is sneaking off to sleep apart from his disapproving wife. The following day we learn that the man in the Corvette crash is a scientist and astronaut whose uncanny resemblance to Cameron is intended as a way of commenting on the shortcomings of his dreams. Where this similarly looking man has succeeded in all of Cameron's dreams, Cameron himself, is a failure. This notion culminates in this man, Kent Armstrong, taking Cameron's job as host of his children's show.
Running parallel to this odd story about Cameron and his doppelganger is that of Cameron's daughter, Nora (Katelyn Nacon). Nora is awkward and acerbic, unpopular at school but not really caring for popularity. Nora then meets Marc (Gabriel Rus), a new kid in school who happens to be the son of Cameron's doppelganger. Nora and Marc slowly build a romantic connection despite Nora saying she's gay more than once early in the film.
That sounds more problematic than it is as there is an explanation. That said, the explanation is bizarre and may leave some audience members deeply confused. The final act of Linoleum sees three parallel stories seemingly merge at different points in time. Characters begin to merge in terms of timelines and it all coalesces into a very interesting conclusion, though one that remains open to interpretation. I can understand audiences that are deeply put off by how Linoleum plays out.
That said, I can't help myself, I kind of liked this movie. The key for me is Jim Gaffigan. The popular comedian is such a likable and charming actor that I became invested in the odd story of Linoleum. I can't claim that I got the movie in a way that others haven't, I can only say that Gaffigan, Rhea Seehorn, and Katelyn Nacon, sell the heck out of this story. The lovely, deeply odd, but very compelling performances won me over to Linoleum.
I also enjoyed the retro look of Linoleum. The film merges timelines from the 60s to the 1990s and the production design reflects each time period, seemingly all at once. Little touches in costume and production design give Linoleum a timeless quality that I really liked. Colin West's direction is assured and detailed and the trust he has in his cast, especially Gaffigan, is the final piece of this terrifically strange puzzle.
Linoleum will not be for all audiences. The movie rewards your attention to the details. It's a movie you need to actively watch as the story begins to merge and cross through time and explore some strange ideas, and you will need to commit to it or you will find the experience of Linoleum frustrating. I bought in about halfway through and as the third act unfolded, I found myself at rapt attention. I was a little confused here and there, but, by the end, I was quite happy with the whole of Linoleum.
Find my archive of more than 20 years and nearly 2000 movie reviews at SeanattheMovies.blogspot.com. Find my modern review archive on my Vocal Profile, linked here. Follow me on Twitter at PodcastSean. Follow the archive blog on Twitter at SeanattheMovies. Listen to me talk about movies on the Everyone's a Critic Movie Review Podcast. If you have enjoyed what you have read, consider subscribing to my work on Vocal. If you'd like to support my work you can do so by making a monthly pledge, or by leaving a one-time tip. Thanks!
About the Creator
Sean Patrick
Hello, my name is Sean Patrick He/Him, and I am a film critic and podcast host for the I Hate Critics Movie Review Podcast I am a voting member of the Critics Choice Association, the group behind the annual Critics Choice Awards.
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