Standards are low in this community. How low are they? I’m glad you asked. The standards in Joe are so low to the ground that a single, childless, middle-aged, violent-and-frequently-jailed adult man, Joe (Nicolas Cage), is considered the ideal parent under the circumstances to troubled teen, Gary (Tye Sheridan). You could search for hours and not find a standard that unimpressive outside of Ted Cruz voters.
Now before you get the wrong idea, Joe is a good man, what with his drinking while driving, desire to battle cops and lucrative tree poisoning business. But when he’s in trouble and about to make a bad mistake, he always knows to get blown by a hooker for serenity.
This gruff mess of a man with a moral compass pointed more north than south is almost certainly Nicolas Cage’s best role in years. As for the protégé, well, you’d think Gary’s primary dilemma was overcoming the name “Gary,” but that’s not the case. Early on, we’re introduced to the issue: Gary has the worst father, pretty much, ever. Wade a.k.a. G-Daawg (Gary Poulter) makes whatever any awful father did look good by comparison. G-Daawg drinks and smokes, and has money for neither. He robs from his son with his fists. He’s cowed his wife and daughter with an ugly, aggressive manner. His work ethic is exactly how hard he needs to hit the person who has what he wants. Did I miss anything? Oh yes, one small detail – his daughter doesn’t talk anymore because of either having been raped by or pimped-out by dad. I’m glad the film didn’t let us in on the truth there.
Enter Joe. Joe comes equipped with his own set of hired hands. C’mon, fellas! Who wants to poison some trees? After escaping from dad, Gary wanders upon the group delivering barky roofies and decides he wants in. Who wouldn’t? Joe takes to the kid and this will … eventually … be the key relationship in the film.
Joe takes forever to develop. Let’s learn more about Joe. Let’s learn more about Gary. Let’s learn more about G-Daawg. Let’s learn more about this slimy scar hound (Ronnie Gene Blevins). Geez, did you guys watch River’s Edge right before filming? Let’s learn more about the tree poisoning business, and the local cat house, and local law enforcement, and Joe’s 
relationship with dogs, and how to properly prepare roadkill deer steaks. Say, if you guys want to throw some plot in there at some point, don’t mind me. No? Ok. Just sayin’.
One thing Cage does here that we haven’t seen much of lately is the hair-trigger temper. This, of course, used to be a Cage trademark, but as his fortunes have declined, so has his intensity on screen. Joe is a throwback to the roles we remember, and, consequently, a rare positive Cage performance in what has been a sea of politicians and Ghost Riders. It’s not enough to save the film; I had the same problem here that I had with Beasts of the Southern Wild – the overwhelming squalor and lawlessness pervades until you just need to see something else on screen. And when there isn’t anything else, that means you have to love either the plot or the players; can’t say they were bad, but I can’t say they were good, either.
♪Hey Joe, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand?
Hey Joe, is this how you clear off this land?
All right. I got protect that kid Gary
You know I caught him getting’ pummeled by his old man
Yeah. I’m going to play mercenary
‘Cause the big house seems likely for his future plan
Huh! And that ain’t too cool. ♫
Rated R, 117 Minutes
D: David Gordon Green
W: Gary Hawkins
Genre: Lives nobody wants
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Sons of abusive fathers
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Sons of abusive fathers
♪ Parody inspired by “Hey Joe”
