The first few moments of Nobel Son might make some moviegoers get up from their seats and leave. Its frenzied music-video-like beginning contains scenes flashing by quickly and revealing a bloody severed thumb while accompanied to loud pulsating music. Such an unenticing start suggested nothing I wanted to see.

About 15 minutes into the story, however, the film settles into its quirky path. Alan Rickman plays Eli Michaelson, a narcissistic, obnoxious chemistry professor who eyes the young girls in his classroom as bed-bait. His wife Sarah (Mary Steenburgen), appears too self-absorbed in her own world to notice. Despite a lack of anything resembling fatherly love or concern, Eli’s son Barkley (Bryan Greenburg) is forging his way to a Ph.D in anthropolgy.   

With exactly $2.57 in his pocket, it’s difficult for Barkley to exist much less afford a date, which becomes his problem when he meets the off-beat but seductive City Hall (Eliza Dushku). However, this sexy lady couldn’t care less about what’s in Barkley’s pocket as she lures him into her apartment. 

Next morning while leaving that tryst, Barkley is kidnapped. His kidnapper, Thaddeus James (Shawn Hatosy), harbors strong angry feelings about Eli’s (Rickman) Nobel nomination. Thaddeus claims the prize-winning research was actually stolen from his own late father who worked with Eli. Thaddeus makes Barkley call his parents, who are now in a Stockholm hotel before Eli accepts his award. Barkley must demand $2 million dollars from his parents or his kidnapper will cut off his ear.

Eli answers the phone. Annoyed, he commands Barkley to grow-up, then hangs up the phone. What else would Eli say, considering his most profound statement to this point has been a comment to his wife that Eli “will never be good at golf.”

Nobel Son gets even more bizarre after this incident. When Barkley’s parents finally receive the thumb in a package, his mother wants to pay the ransom immediately, but Eli whines it’s all the money they have.

Several twists and turns are somewhat amusing here, yet aspects of the filmmaking neutralize what could have been a far better film. Bill Pullman comes across as an interesting character in the role of detective Max Mariner, but his character isn’t backed up by a well-written script. Danny DeVito plays a small part as an obsessive compulsive handyman. And Ted Danson portrays another professor, probably added to the film because he’s married to Mary Steenburgen.

Nobel Son doesn’t now if it’s a crime drama or a satire. The issues of cannibalism are off-putting and never connect with the real plot. DJ Paul Oakenfold’s musical score is irritating throughout the film, and Randall Miller’s (Bottle Shock) direction never seems to connect the subplots.

I have to admit, though, Rickman is priceless in his buffoonery. The scene showing him wearing underwear while sitting in a large pink blow-up chair is priceless. Rickman’s many fans will probably enjoy Nobel Son.

(Released by Freestyle Releasing and rated “R” for violence, language, some sexuality and nudity.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.