Dealin' with Idiots (2013)

Comedian Max Morris (Jeff Garlin) brings his son Max to play in little league baseball. Max isn't good. Ava (Nia Vardalos) is his wife. He has imaginary conversations with his father (Timothy Olyphant). He decides to research the wacky parents who come to the games for a possible movie. Coach Jimbo (Bob Odenkirk) owns a print shop. Coach Ted (J.B. Smoove) lives next to weird neighbors Jessica (Natasha Leggero), Jackie the Chocolatier, Freddy, and Big Time Sara. Angela (Hope Dworaczyk Smith) is a hot nanny for one of the kids. Harold (Richard Kind) is married to Rosie (Jami Gertz) who is obsessed with the game snacks. Hezekiah (Steve Agee) is obsessed with the game and possibly making his own movie. Caitlin (Kerri Kenney) and Sophie (Gina Gershon) are the lesbian couple. Marty (Fred Willard) is the divorced money man who is secretly without any money.Jeff Garlin has gathered a big cast of fun comedic talents to use in this rambling comedy. It's a lot of wacky characters in the world of little league baseball. There isn't anything tremendous but this cast is bound to get a couple of chuckles. There isn't much of a story. These aren't the Bad News Bears. The kids are mostly decorations and aren't actual characters.

This was one of those Netflix discoveries made late at night. I gave it a chance, mainly because of the stellar cast (Jeff Garlin? Fred Willard? LOVE!!!) I was beyond pleasantly surprised. I'm not a fan of writing spoilers (but I love to read them....weird, huh?!), so I'll be vague and mysterious and just say that it was such an odd, hilarious movie, but with a sprinkle of positivity that just endears you to it all the more. (Don't let this confuse you, I'm a fan of bawdy, outrageous comedy and this is chock-full of it!) You don't have to love sports or have kids to laugh your @$$ off. I love this movie, and I can honestly say I'd rewatch this again and again (which I rarely say about a movie.) P.S. Steve Agee's character was amazing. Just...yeah. I really didn't know the man existed prior to this film, and I can't wait to see some of his other work. Also, Jami Gertz' character is the (hilariously) living embodiment of why I'm glad my kids don't care about sports.

"They're all offended by everything!?" Is a line from the hero's wife that sums up, in my opinion, the nature of the story. She says this after one of many encounters with the living breathing examples that we all bounce off of daily, of what happens when people lose their connection to humanity and replaced it with a death-grip on their own delusions(The coaches wife is my favorite/most hated example). Jeff Garlin is genius in illustrating the everyday 'idiotics' that we all either encounter or contribute to depending on whatever determines that. I'll be on the lookout from now on for more of his work.Even the 'fatherly' scenes that would have been left out of 95% of the genres scripts added so much depth to interactions and understanding of the star. I didn't expect that and it made things even more real and moved in between the scenes that I was laughing.Like Idiocracy, somehow this movie escaped the radar of the masses and it's a damn tragedy, if for no other reason but I'd like to think those of us that agree with the premise of it aren't in the minority...Oh well some are born tall, some short, some smart, ...Oh and as a bonus the casting took this movie from poignant and funny as hell to a world-class comedy experience. When you cast a movie from top to bottom with stars that can make you cry with laughter, your bound to strike gold. Great movie!

Basically the movie is about an "idiot dealing with idiots" in terms of little league parents. The story starts of slowly to allow for character development and setting up a good plot. Overall everything breaks down, it has little humor, and you are meant to identify with the supposed intellect of Max (Jeff Garlin). The relationship between the father and the son is the only interesting aspect to this movie, because it has multiple levels to it, and tries to develop something inspirational and thoughtful out of it. Also they have Timothy Olyphant, so, can't lose there. J.B. Smoove and Fred Willard added something to the story as well, and that was entertaining. On the other hand, the storyline doesn't really do much to develop what could have been interesting. It ends abruptly, with little explanation or conclusive aspect. The after-credits scene was alright, but again could have definitely been developed better.Overall, the movie is a 5/10, on average would be between 4-6 depending on a person's taste. If you're bored, and are looking for a slow paced comedy (there are some chuckle scenes, and one or two funny moments) with suggestive humor rather than explicit, you might want to check it out. The movie isn't badly written or directed, but is not too appealing. Wouldn't recommend it to most people.