Love Mussel is a 2001 New Zealand television film. It is a mockumentary where Kevin Smith, playing himself, investigates a town who are harvesting an aphrodisiac species of geoduck (pronounced as gooey duck).[1][2] First commissioned for a Sunday drama series, it was originally intended to star Sam Neill.[3]

Love Mussel
Directed byMichael Hurst
Written byStephen Sinclair
Produced byRachel Jean
StarringKevin Smith
CinematographyDale McCready
Edited byNicola Smith
Music byJason Smith
Production
company
Frame Up Films
Release date
  • July 19, 2001 (2001-07-19)
Running time
47 min
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

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Kevin Smith is creating a documentary in the town of Ureroa where they have the Gooey Duck, a shellfish with Viagra-like properties. Focussing on locals, Bob and Noeline, who harvest the shellfish, Smith tries one himself with disastrous consequences.[4]

Cast

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Reception

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Jane Bowron in The Evening Post said it was "Made along the lines of Frontline, the gentle Australian satire about the shenanigans of a TV channel" and wrote "Of course it was supposed to be terribly funny that a chap of Smith's obvious sexual charms (he always looks like he might strip at any moment) would develop an erotic appetite for the MP for Ashburton."[5] The Listener's Diana Wichtel said "as a comedian [Kevin Smith] put his Me Tarzan good looks to even better use. Thanks to him, a lively script and deft directing, Love Mussel was a good, honest laugh."[6]

References

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  1. "Sex and the gooey duck", The Evening Post, 16 July 2001
  2. Hoby, Katherine (18 July 2001), "Ureroa plays host to Kevin Smith's 'Love Mussel'", The New Zealand Herald
  3. Hughes, Owen (2 February 2017), "A Perspective", NZ On Screen
  4. "Can ya' feel the love", The Press, 17 July 2001
  5. Bowron, Jane (28 July 2001), "Spot the real gooey duck", The Evening Post
  6. Wichtel, Diana (4 August 2001), "Love Mussel", The Listener
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