C.O.G. Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A fancy Yale grad decides to work picking apples in Oregon to find himself, only to meet weirdos and accidentally stumble into a religious phase while avoiding a possibly gay encounter.

🍿 C.O.G.: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Yale Grad Seeks the ‘Real World’

David, a privileged and intellectually arrogant young man fresh out of Yale, decides to abandon his life in Connecticut and seek manual labor in Oregon. He adopts the alias ‘Samuel’ and plans to work on an apple farm, accompanied initially by a girlfriend who ultimately doesn’t show up. This journey is his attempt to experience the ‘real world’ beyond academia, armed with his books and atheist convictions. Arriving in rural Oregon, David finds himself ill-equipped for the physically demanding work of apple picking and culturally isolated from the mostly Spanish-speaking migrant workers. His attempts to connect are awkward and often condescending, highlighting his naive view of the working class and his own perceived superiority. His initial boss, Hobbs, is gruff but offers a connection to a job at a processing plant after a family tragedy.

Encounters at the Apple Plant

David transitions to working at an apple processing plant, a slightly less physically taxing but equally monotonous environment. Here, he meets Curly, a friendly forklift operator who seems to offer genuine companionship. Curly’s outgoing nature initially appeals to David, providing a sense of belonging he lacked in the orchards. However, the friendship takes an uncomfortable and unexpected turn as Curly reveals a sexual interest in David, leading to a disturbing encounter. This incident leaves David shaken and prompts him to abruptly leave his job and seek refuge elsewhere, demonstrating his vulnerability and lack of preparation for navigating complex interpersonal relationships outside his sheltered background.

Exploring Faith and Community

Following the incident with Curly, David is stranded and reaches out to Jon, a born-again Christian and war veteran he briefly encountered earlier. Jon, who identifies as a ‘C.O.G.’ (Child of God), takes David in and offers him a place to stay and work making Oregon-shaped jade clocks. David immerses himself in Jon’s life and the local Christian community. Initially skeptical due to his atheism, David attempts to understand and even adopt Jon’s faith, participating in church activities and expressing a desire for conversion. This period sees David exploring themes of religion, repentance, and belonging, seemingly searching for a new framework for his life after his previous experiences.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• David (Jonathan Groff): A privileged and arrogant young man who travels to Oregon seeking a humbling manual labor experience on an apple farm.
• Hobbs (Denis O’Hare): The religious and pragmatic owner of the apple farm who provides work and challenges David’s worldview.
• Curly (Corey Stoll): A rough yet philosophical logger and fellow worker who offers David a complex and challenging friendship.
• Jennifer (Casey Wilson): A kind and devout Christian woman volunteering at the farm who befriends David and introduces him to her faith.
• Debbie (Margo Martindale): Hobbs’s practical and insightful wife who works on the farm and observes David’s struggles.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Samuel: “I came here to work with my hands. To do manual labor.” – Said by the protagonist upon arriving in Oregon, stating his seemingly earnest but somewhat naive goal for escaping his previous life.
• Samuel: “Oh, I’m not gay in *that* way.” – A somewhat uncomfortable and revealing line spoken by Samuel when someone makes an assumption about him, highlighting his internal conflict and guardedness.
• Jon: “Everybody’s got their own circus of God.” – Said by Jon, Samuel’s religious friend, explaining the meaning of the title ‘C.O.G.’ and referring to everyone’s personal relationship with faith or their own unique beliefs.
• Curly: “You think I like picking apples? This is a paycheck.” – Delivered by the no-nonsense apple picker, Curly, offering Samuel a dose of reality about the romanticized idea of manual labor versus its practical purpose.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: $55,301
• Worldwide Gross: $55,301

💥 C.O.G. Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into C.O.G. because I’m a big Jonathan Groff fan, and honestly, I was totally pulled in by the opening bus scene. It set this perfect, awkward, slightly unsettling tone that felt really unique. Watching David (or Samuel) navigate this world he clearly doesn’t understand was painful but also darkly funny. The encounter with Curly was intense and made me genuinely anxious, while his time with Jon and the C.O.G. group was fascinatingly strange and made me question things right alongside David. The movie felt really brave in how it just dropped you into these weird situations without holding your hand. I loved seeing Groff stretch in this role; he made the character’s pretentiousness and vulnerability feel very real, even if he was hard to like sometimes. The ending left me hanging, which was frustrating, but I’ve been thinking about it ever since.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of character-driven indie dramas”
  • “Viewers interested in stories of self-discovery and identity”
  • “Admirers of Jonathan Groff’s acting”
  • “Those familiar with and open to the style of David Sedaris (though note the film diverges from the essay’s tone for some)”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Rated R for language and some sexual content (including an implied/attempted sexual assault)”
  • “Themes of religious fundamentalism and questioning faith”
  • “Portrayal of potentially disturbing or unsettling character behaviors”
  • “Ambiguous and unresolved ending”

Professional Reviews

• Adapted from User Review: “This adaptation of a David Sedaris essay is a mixed bag. While Jonathan Groff delivers a compelling performance as the smug, naive protagonist, the film struggles with narrative focus and tone. It’s often darkly funny and insightful, particularly in its portrayal of cultural clashes, but its deliberate ambiguity on key themes like sexuality and religion might frustrate viewers looking for clear answers. The ending feels less like a conclusion and more like an abrupt stop, leaving the audience to ponder what it all meant.
• Adapted from User Review: “C.O.G. presents an uncomfortable, often bleak look at a privileged young man’s attempt to immerse himself in ‘real life’. The film excels in its character portrayals, with standout work from Groff, Corey Stoll, and Denis O’Hare, who bring depth to the often-unpleasant people David encounters. However, the script’s reluctance to condemn problematic language and ideas is jarring. While aiming for nuance, it sometimes comes across as unchecked. It’s a film with strong acting and intriguing setups, but its lack of resolution and clear perspective is a significant drawback.

Audience Reactions

Jonathan Groff’s performance was consistently praised, even by those who disliked the movie.: Many viewers found the film’s portrayal of awkward human interactions and cultural clashes authentic, if sometimes uncomfortable.

The ambiguity of the ending sparked significant discussion and division among viewers.: The film’s dark humor and eccentric characters were appreciated by those who connected with its tone.

Some viewers deeply resonated with the themes of finding oneself and navigating identity.: Corey Stoll and Denis O’Hare received acclaim for their memorable supporting roles.

Overall Consensus: A divisive but intriguing character study anchored by strong performances. Many appreciate its subtle humor and exploration of complex themes, while others are frustrated by its bleakness, ambiguity, and unlikeable protagonist.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “C.O.G. is the first and only time one of David Sedaris’s essays has been adapted into a film. Sedaris is known for being protective of his work and initially had reservations, but he reportedly approved of Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s script.”
• “The film was shot on location in Oregon apple orchards, mimicking the setting of David Sedaris’s original essay, ‘Circus of God’.”

🖥️ How to Watch C.O.G.?

Looking to watch ‘C.O.G.’? This indie drama, released in 2013, is often available for rent or purchase on major digital platforms. Check services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu for streaming options. Availability on subscription services can vary over time, so checking these platforms directly is the best way to find where to watch ‘C.O.G.’ online.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed C.O.G., you might like these similar films:

• Sideways (2004): Features two men on a road trip through wine country who confront their lives and insecurities, similar to Samuel’s journey of self-discovery while encountering different people in rural Oregon.
• Bad Santa (2003): Based on a David Sedaris essay (‘SantaLand Diaries’), this film shares the connection to the source author, depicting an outsider’s awkward and cynical perspective on a specific, often idealized, environment.
• The Station Agent (2003): Follows a man who isolates himself in a remote town and forms unlikely connections with the locals, much like Samuel’s experience integrating into the rural Oregon community.
• Frances Ha (2012): An indie film from a similar era focusing on a young person navigating life, identity, and awkward social situations while trying to figure out their place in the world.
• Nebraska (2013): A black-and-white road trip drama featuring complex character interactions and a sense of place in a rural American setting, capturing a similar understated, character-driven tone.
• Alexander the Great (1980): This Greek film, also based on Sedaris’s essay ‘Circus of God’ and referenced directly in C.O.G., serves as a curious, difficult-to-find point of comparison for its shared source material.

🛒 C.O.G. Related Products

• Naked: The collection of essays by David Sedaris that includes the autobiographical short story “C.O.G.”, the inspiration for the film.
• Criterion Collection Style Blu-ray/DVD (Fan Concept): A potential special edition release featuring interviews with the cast and crew, director commentary, behind-the-scenes footage, and analysis of the Sedaris essay adaptation.
• Oregon Map Jigsaw Puzzle: A fun, challenging puzzle shaped like the state of Oregon, reminiscent of the jade clocks crafted by Jon in the film.
• Premium Travel Journal: A high-quality journal with prompts for self-reflection, travel experiences, and personal growth, encouraging users to document their own ‘journeys’.

🎧 Soundtrack

C.O.G. features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “El Gusto” – performed by Eduardo Padilla

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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