Cottage Country (2013)

When I stumbled upon "Cottage Country" I had not heard about the movie, so I didn't know what to expect from it. I took a look at the movie's cover and must say that I was instantly interested in the movie. Then I read the synopsis and saw that Tyler Labine was starring in the movie, so my interest was further peaked. So naturally I decided to give "Cottage Country" a go.The cast in "Cottage Country" was quite good, and they really managed to get together a great ensemble of acting performers, and there was a great chemistry between the various performers. It was really nice to see Tyler Labine again in a comedy much in the same genre as "Tucker & Dale vs Evil". Dan Petronijevic added a great comedy element to the movie with his character. Lucy Punch was really nicely cast for the very odd character Masha. And of course it was also nice to have an actor like Kenneth Welsh show up in the movie."Cottage Country" had a very interesting character gallery to bring the story to life on the screen. And the cast hired to portray the various roles and characters were doing good jobs with their assigned characters. And the brotherly rivalry between Tood and Salinger was just great and resulted in some hilarious scenes.The dialogue in the movie was well-written and very suitable for the characters. And I really liked the Marsha character's dialogue, because she was just so extreme and so out there that it was hard not to be amused constantly.There are some really good laughs to be had from watching "Cottage Country", and if you like comedies with a dark and twisted sense of humor then you will most definitely enjoy and want to watch this movie.The special effects and make-up effects were actually quite good and they served the movie quite well. Now, this isn't a special effects galore like many Hollywood movies ten Writer Jeremy Boxen had managed to put together a very enjoyable story that had some great laughs, some memorable moments, and very likable characters. And director Peter Wellington was doing a great job of telling the story in a great transition from script to screen.This was indeed a very dark and twisted comedy, and it was without a doubt quite well worth taking the time and effort to sit down to watch it, and I am genuinely happy that I did, because I was thoroughly entertained by the movie.

Todd brings his girlfriend up to the family cottage with the intention of proposing to her. Problems arise when his loser of a brother, Salinger shows up with his on/off girlfriend and ruins everything. Things go from bad to worse when the two brothers get into a pushing match, which ends with Salinger dead. Now Todd must keep it together before other people find out. Cottage Country takes awhile before it finds the groove it wants to be in. This happens once the brother is killed. Everything leading up to that is really hit and miss comedy and set up. Labine doesn't seem comfortable, Akerman doesn't have much to do and Punch is incredibly annoying. Once the conflict arises, meaning the dead brother, the film finally gets into the right balance of comedy and horror...even though it goes lite on the horror. Labine plays Todd, and everyman that people tend to walk over, be it his boss, brother and even wife. There is a bit of Tucker & Dale vs Evil intention here, with the character and overall theme in the film, but Cottage Country fails to deliver the laughs and gore. Instead we get chuckles here and there, mainly from the cast and the situation they are in. Akerman surprised me here. She held her own as the marriage obsessed wife. I forgot she could do comedy well. The film tries this balancing act, but never quiet finds the footing. There are oddly placed scenes in which Todd sees his dead brother talking to him, but this adds nothing to the story and doesn't happen enough. There are only two scenes we get to see this interaction and decay of his psychological state. There were some tense and funny moments when the couple were trying their best to keep the murders under wraps, but not one memorable scene that stands out as really funny. The film had a decent premise (although it was a bit of a stretch) and it didn't really seem to take any chances. I would have appreciated it more if it had.Cottage Country is a decent Canadian comedy horror that is lite on both. If you can get past the awful choice of having Lucy Punch do an odd accent for cheap laughs, and you can appreciate the ludicrous aspect of the premise and these horrible characters, then give Cottage Country a look. Just don't expect much, you'll leave a little bit surprised.

Cammie and Todd are a couple who is trying to find peace and quiet and they go at a cabin in the middle of the woods to have a few days of relaxation. All good until Todd's brother along with his girlfriend Masha arrives at the chalet. They don't realize that are bothering them and after the girls are gone for a little hike Cammie tells Todd to convince his brother to leave them alone. They fight and Todd accidentally kills Salinger and covers his murder. After Masha and Cammie return he tells her what he has just done and Cammie encourages him to get rid of Masha also. They are dumping the part of their bodies after they cut them in the lake and are surprised when they arrive back that a party in the middle of progress is at their house and comprehend that Salinger invite them to come but he wasn't sure if he really made the announcement.Now the two must behave normal and not to give suspicious to the guest and make them believe that they don't know where the missing couple is. Although this should be easy the situation complicates when Todd has some hallucinations with his dead brother and attracts attention with his unusual behavior. One guest specifically becomes involved and want to find out the truth but end up having the same faith as his friends. When police arrives the couple must play innocent and soon Todd's parent are coming to the cottage but for how long will they manage to hide the reality for those around them?I catalog this movie to be a black comedy although there are only a few scenes where you laugh for some seconds and in rest it's a little bit silly but still is a good way to spend you Sunday evening.

From the producers of "Hobo With a Shotgun" comes Cottage Country. The film's lead being Tyline Labine, who you will probably recognize from the film "Tucker and Dale vs Evil", a film where he both figuratively & literally killed it in the role as Dale. Labine returns to a film filled with accident evil, not quite as good as Tucker and Dale, but a fun rompHere Labine plays the somewhat more refined role of Todd Chipowski, a man who has planned out the perfect week long getaway at his parent's lake house with his longtime girlfriend Cammie(Malin Akerman). Todd has planned a bit more than just the vacation, he and Cammie have plans to paddle out to the lake's remote island and find the perfect spot for Todd to pop the question. Before they even get settled in, Todd's rowdy, obnoxious brother Salinger(Dan Petronijevic) shows up with his sleazy girlfriend Masha in tow(Lucy Punch). When Todd tells Sal to hit the road they end up in a scuffle which ends up with the better part of an ax head buried into his Sal's neck. When Cammie hears the news, she decides that nothing is going stop their engagement and they continue with their plans on the island. Little do they know that Sal has invited all his friends over for a big bash that very night and they return to find a house full of strangers and a whole lot of explaining,lying and diverting to do as to the whereabouts of Sal and why his car is in the driveway.It has been done before effectively in numerous dark comedies, but this film has a fresh feel and once it fully gets going, will have you laughing a good deal as well as squirming in your seat. One great surprise for me was the effective zig-zag in the film's final minutes, it does something unpredictable and leaves you with a certain upbeat sense of karma. I think it's a fine choice for some good laughs and some great spurts of uncomfortable tension which I recommend if that's what you're in the mood for.