Blue Man Coup

Is it possible to love a movie for just one costume? In the case of Kabluey (on DVD next Tuesday), the answer is most definitely yes. Its story is familiar: It’s about a deadbeat protagonist in a quirky small town, the kind you see in, oh, 8 out of 10 indie films. But when this deadbeat takes a job passing out fliers while dressed as Kabluey, the mascot for a failing Internet company, this shoestring flick upgrades to a small masterpiece.

Powder-blue and featureless, Kabluey looks like a cross between a Smurf and a traffic icon in a “Ped Xing” sign. Scott Prendergast (who wrote, directed and stars in the film) could’ve easily settled for “let’s bash the mascot” scenarios, but thankfully he digs deeper. Watching Kabluey’s oblong, fingerless mitts and their loose hold on a stack of fliers is bizarrely evocative.

There are good performances from Lisa Kudrow, Teri Garr and SNL alumnus Chris Parnell, but really, Kabluey’s all about the little blue dude. Not since Donnie Darko has a movie milked so many hypnotic images from one measly outfit.

Kabluey will be available on DVD September 16 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

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