Watch The Strongest Man

The Strongest Man is a comedy-drama film released in 2015, directed and co-written by Kenny Riches. The film features various themes including modern masculinity, cultural identity, relationships, and self-discovery. The movie follows the story of a lovable yet awkward gym worker named Beef (Robert Lorie), who discovers Paul (Paul Chamberlain), a sizeable weight, oddly placed on a utility pole and sets out on a journey, together with his friend, Conan (Ashly Burch), to embrace the titular of 'The Strongest Man in the World' in Miami.

The Strongest Man is an introspective yet funny movie about masculinity, masculinity in modern culture, and the definition of strength. The development of the main character, Beef, is one of the movie's most remarkable aspects. Beef is portrayed as an overweight Miami resident who is comfortable with his insecurity, and his only friend, Conan, is a fellow employee at a local gym.

The movie takes a minimalist approach to storytelling, using subtlety instead of telling the audience what to feel, which creates a natural and relatable atmosphere. The film's simple premise serves as a conduit for the exploration of various themes, including the dynamics of different types of relationships, and the ways that the modern world shapes our perceptions of ourselves and others.

The Strongest Man moves through various quirky encounters with characters ranging in personality traits throughout their journey to claim the pole from the urban neighborhood, parks, and bars - the interactions result from playful exchanges to confrontations that stem from the exploration of 'manliness'. The theme of modern masculinity is examined and the picture painted is unapologetic and honest, highlighting the shortcomings of the ideal.

The character Conan is essential to the exploration of modern femininity, as she is made to be a powerful woman who is comfortable in her own skin but is often on the receiving end of aggressive male advances. Despite many of the character's interactions being highly comedic, they offer a profound commentary on gender in modern society.

While the journey undertaken by Beef is to claim the weight, it is portrayed that the weight represents nothing beyond the illusory comfort of being stronger than anyone else. The Strongest Man is not about reaching this aspirational title; it is about how we define ourselves, the expectations of the people around us, and the cultural conditions that shape us into men and women.

The movie is visually stunning, capturing the surrealistic appeal of Miami, blending the vibrant color palettes and the magical realism of the city. The environment serves as a character itself, with each location and object playing its part to form a vibrant and vivid personality.

The cast of The Strongest Man shines through their peculiar and outstanding performances; Robert Lorie, the movie's lead actor, plays Beef with a wholesome and an earnest performance, and he and Ashly Burch bounce off each other impeccably. However, it is the supporting cast that adds the necessary flavor with memorable performances from Lisa Banes as Beef's mother, Patrick Fugit as a character encountered briefly to help Beef, and Freddy Sean Coleman as a cab driver who bears witness to Beef's troubles.

Overall, The Strongest Man is a quirky, opulent, and surprisingly insightful view on masculinity, gender, and identity in modern society. The film's efforts to explore and examine these themes are expressed with a light touch, creating a uniquely entertaining experience that manages to be both meaningful and lighthearted. If you're looking for a fresh perspective on the complexities that define gender and sexuality, The Strongest Man is well worth a watch.

The Strongest Man is a 2015 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 39.