Weirdsville (2007)

I absolutely adore this movie. Some friends and I rented it only because there was nothing else in the store and I am so glad we did. It is so random and definitely lives up to its title. I recommend it to anyone who has an open mind and a sense of humour because you will need both. The acting is amazing, and the story line is so funny, and so over the top that it almost seems plausible, considering the characters. Taryn Manning is great, I have always trusted the movies she's been in (minus Crossroads) and this just validates it. The partners in crime are brilliant and completely believable as addicts, and every character that comes in and out of the plot brings even more color to the film. I've been searching the net to buy as I can't seem to find it anywhere in stores.

People are raving how funny this movie is...WOW! They, too, must be on drugs. Wes and Scott must've been high when they accepted to do this film. A waste of two very fine actors! I wanted to like it. It's only ninety minutes long and after the first seventy minutes, I still hadn't cracked a smile. I sat through the final twenty minutes, hoping for a big finish...but that petered out as well. If you want to rent a good comedy, rent one WITH 'Weirdsville' because you won't laugh at this one. I'd really have to look long and hard to find a movie I've enjoyed less. People who found this hilarious are gonna die laughing when they see 'Atonement'.

Weirdsville = = the off kilter of After Hours + turns of 2 Smoking Barrels + twists of Trainspotting + a dash of Reservoir Dogs + the warmth of Broomstick Boys + a shake of Run Lola Run + a sprig of Fargo and Office Space.Not what i expected in a small movie. I expected so much less, and got so much more. I was caught off guard in it's bright happy portrayal of very dark things. Drugs, crime, gangsters, prostitution, Satan cult and murder all felt like being at a cozy winter slumber party. The minimal cast and barren scenes were perfect, and lonely winter bleakness of the sets enhanced the characters lives and yet another level of warmth to them and to the script. I was on the edge of my seat most of the time... not in thriller suspense as much as the constant 2 hour smile and ongoing hearty feel-good laughs like i was on a crazy roller coaster of tickles in the Scooby-Doo haunted house... for adults. I really wish there were more films like this. Not a big budget, not a big name roster, not under scripted, not pretentious, not goofy slapstick. But it was well shot, well edited, well paced, well scripted, simple-smart, warm, fun and funny... and about drugs, crime, gangsters, prostitution, Satan cult and murder, and stand-by-me friendships in the winter. It never blew my mind, and never felt cutting edge original, but i really loved it because it held me, and quirked me, and it really felt so fresh, free, filling and well done from the title to the end of the credits... including a great soundtrack of music I have never heard of, but wish i had.

The most positive thing I can personally say regarding Weirdsville is that I did at least keep watching until the end. That said, I just as soon wished I had used the time for something more rewarding. I felt the movie though stylish and reasonably well produced just fell flat in both story and humor.Classic stoner flicks suck us in in spite of the fact most of us do not actually identify with stoners. I mean a good movie of the stoner genre is wickedly funny and built around likable stoner buddies, i.e., Cheech & Chong, Harrold & Kumar, Bill & Ted...et.al. In Weirdsville I never felt a like for Dex & Royce particularly. They were in a predicament that had them racing against time to come up with money (reminded me of The Blues Brothers). They were being chased by several different "nut jobs" (like the Blues Brothers). The ensuing situations just were not especially funny (NOT like the Blues Brothers which was uber-hilarious).Granted I'm not the primary audience this flick is aimed at, I mean I'm 48. However, I know a good stoner flick when I see it and this misses the mark. Simply put, not awful by any means...Just not good enough to recommend.