Where the ‘Robert’ meets the road!

Normally I like movies that are unusual and don’t require much thought to watch, but Rubber made me question my tastes.  I heard the concept was basically about a killer tire on the loose and I got REALLY excited about seeing this movie; yet shortly after the film got rolling (ha ha) . . . I regretted my enthusiasms.  The TIRE was the only element that made the movie remotely enjoyable, and I wish I was joking!

Rubber starts off in a small southwestern town where Lieutenant Chad (Stephen Spinella) comes out of a car trunk to “introduce“ the movie to the audience, presumably the viewing audience, but in actuality, there is an on-screen group of people standing in the middle of the desert to “watch” this movie.

This is our first glimpse of the tire (Robert), the star of the movie. Robert is learning how to roll, much like an infant walking, and coming across certain items in the desert in which he chooses to just roll over to display dominance. Meanwhile, the audience in the desert is watching these actions and coming to their own conclusions of what is going to happen next.

We meet our next “important” character, Sheila (Roxane Mesquida). Sheila is driving along when she sees the tire rolling, and gets passed by an angry motorist who just runs right into poor Robert. Sheila continues driving along when she sees the angry motorist and chooses to flip him the bird; when the tire meets up with our angry motorist, we get the first glimpse of his “killing powers”. Needless to say, this was one of the more humorous parts of the movie.

Night falls and Sheila has checked herself into a hotel room. The tire rolls up to the same hotel and peeks inside Sheila’s room as she showers and when she slams the door shut, he magically appears in the adjoining room and LITERALLY stays on the bed and watches television at higher amounts of volume.

Day comes, and the audience is still in the desert. While most slept, only one man, the Man in the Wheelchair (Wings Hauser) continues to watch everything that is happening. While the audience is complaining of hunger, the Accountant (Jack Plotnick) arrives to feed the audience.

Sheila awakes and looks around the small town; the tire gets kicked out of his room by the cleaning lady while he was taking a shower. (I can NOT make up this shit!) After getting thrown out of the room, Robert, the tire, takes his revenge on yet another that has gotten in his way. But, Robert was not alone at the time, and wtiness Zach (Remy Thorne) saw everything.

Lieutenant Chad arrives on the scene to explain that this is all nonsense that is occurring around them. The tire decides to hide out in the pool when hotel owner, M. Hughes (David Bowe) orders Zach to retrieve the tire from the pool, and then kicks the tire away. I think you can see where this is going.

Days go by, and the people finally realize that the one thing that is killing all the people is the tire. They stage a stakeout, and Lieutenant Chad believes he has taken care of the problem, or has he?

Most should pass on this film, but if you must watch Rubber, fast forward to the scenes with Robert, the tire! Robert was the ONLY enjoyable thing about this movie. The way the scenes with him were portrayed, and the sheer humor that came across the screen made it watchable at pretty much only those points.

The plot was non-existent, but I must admit the fact there was the attempt at a plot made me wish that Robert WAS real and that he would do to me what he did to those who got in his way.  Just make it quick, Robert, I can’t stand another one of your films!

Have you ever wondered the reaction Conan O’Brien had after NBC yanked him from the Tonight Show or what he really wanted to do about it? “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop” delivers the goods!  The exact moment the decision is made to get around the whole “legally prohibited from being funny on TV” is revealed in this excellent documentary. 

Director Rodman Flender (yes, that is his real name) starts the tell-all with Conan explaining on the day of his last show that he was already planning a tour to keep himself fresh.  Conan just can’t stop entertaining people – EVER! Capturing the initial reaction to NBC’s decision to replace Conan with Jay Leno and the upheaval that followed, Flender gives an earnest backstage view of the tedious machinations that go into producing a seamless delivery for Conan’s millions of fans.  There are countless meetings with his writers to get everything set up: dates have to be realized; jokes have to be written; songs have to be prepared; and an order for everything has to be determined.

In an attempt to see if people will take to the dream, Conan decides to announce his tour dates and locations while the tour is still only a reality in his incredible imagination. Less than 30 minutes into the first day of ticket sales, venues in the East and Midwest already start selling out. (I admit I was at the first of two Chicago performances.)

Conan quickly learns how vast his nation spreads as their loyalty and dedication to him has, seemingly, no end.  They are willing to pay any price to let him know how much they appreciate the consummate entertainer.  They also make sure to let him know how much he would be missed on the Tonight Show.

We learn as the production is coming together, jokes are being written, and the first show is rapidly approaching; Conan has to tell his children that he is going on the road for a while, but he will do all he can to chat with them every day. Flender manages to capture a rare glimpse into the softer side of Conan, and the audience really feels how much this funny man loves his family.  And, while he feels the need to tour, it doesn’t mean he won’t miss his wife and kids.  It was something that I always assumed was the case, but seeing it first-hand had an amazing impact on me, and it only served to strengthen my admiration for him and seal my place as one of his followers.

While it is no secret that a lot of work goes into these tours, the film does a great job of showcasing that as we follow Conan and see how much he personally puts into each show every night. A person never goes without an autograph when asked, and he even has V.I.P. meet and greets at EVERY one of his shows. Conan gives back to his fans, and you can tell that it isn’t because there is a film crew present, it’s because he appreciates the support. Yet, as the tour continues on, Conan grows more and more frustrated and tired. He still does what he can to appease his flock, but it takes a toll on his body and it really comes across in this documentary.

The tour winds down, and Conan still does all he can to make his fans happy. His performance at the Bonaroo Music Festival in Tennessee becomes more than just putting on a show, as he is booked to start introducing performers, which leads to one of the more humorous goings on in the movie. The tour finally wraps up, and there is a lot of talk about how much fun it was regardless of the physical tolls paid.

Conan O’Brien truly can’t stop! This film brilliantly shows how much he loves to entertain and how it’s become the only thing he knows how to do anymore. The time he spends on the road and everything that is documented in the movie really shows that Conan cares about everyone around him.  His audience is the real reason he continues to do what he has done for the past 26 years now, and I hope he has at least that many years ahead of him.

I was fortunate enough to see this at the Peoria Theater, and I openly support local independent theaters. Places like the Peoria Theater, easily found at www.peoriatheater.com, show independent and foreign films that most times get overlooked. If you want to see young directors and movies that you will hear about later; get out and support your local independent theater while you can. . . let’s keep the screens dreaming.

You can get to the official site and see if any theaters are lucky enough to be showing this right now in your area, just click on Conan’s mug above.  I highly recommend you see this film; even Conan detractors will find it hard to dislike him after this backstage pass into the Conan O’Brien machine.

See what OUR Wolfpack had to say about THE Wolfpack!

Click on each character’s face for a different review, then post your comments below and let me know which writer belongs to which character!

Limacher Low Down: I’m not going to lie and say I was THRILLED to watch a movie with Mel Gibson in it, especially the way he’s been acting the past few years;  BUT he delivers his best performance in YEARS if not his career. Jodie Foster directed this movie, and she must have seen something left in Mel to give him a chance with this role. This film had such a diverse way of presenting itself and provided such a great story; it was something very eye opening to me, and when the credits rolled I was pleasantly surprised with the movie I had just watched.

“The Beaver” is the story of Walter Black (Mel Gibson) and how depression has slowly taken everything he once valued in his life away from him. His wife Meredith (Jodie Foster) no longer loves him, his oldest son Porter (Anton Yelchin) writes notes to himself of things he has in common with his father to correct them simply because he hates his father, and his youngest son Henry (Riley Thomas Stewart) hardly communicates with anyone. Walter gets kicked out of his house by Meredith, his once thriving toy company is close to going out of business, and he has no one to turn to, or so he thinks. When throwing away things of little consequence in his life, Walter discovers something he never really thought of having any value before, a beaver puppet.

After a wicked bender Walter awakes to the beaver puppet on his hand telling him how shitty his life is, and what he needs to do to change it. Walter now starts living his life through the beaver puppet, which coincidentally has an Australian accent. Walter, via the beaver, starts to turn his life around. The company is starting to do better, his family has somewhat started to accept him again, and things are looking up. The way this is presented leaves the viewer curious as to what is really going on, and how things will continue with a man who does EVERYTHING with a damn puppet on his arm.

While Walter is getting better we also have the side story of Porter who is wise beyond his years who has a little “business” in the school. Kids know him to be able to write papers in “their own words” for a hefty sum. Porter then gets approached by the class Valedictorian, and hottest girl in the school, Norah (Jennifer Lawrence). Norah requests the special services of Porter to help her write something she cannot quite seem to write herself. Porter doesn’t know how to react to this, but finally decides to get to know Norah to better understand how she might write something. We now have two growing stories in the same movie; a man who uses a beaver puppet to speak for himself, and his son who has the talent to speak for others. This side story has a very dramatic appeal to it, and doesn’t take anything away from the movie. When watching it you start to wonder about the family dynamic and how this all takes shape.

Walter finds himself not being able to speak for himself without the use of “The Beaver” and when he attempts to he returns to his old ways once again. The way Gibson pulls this off is something unique and special to watch. Porter also finds himself having growing problems of his own that soon begin to spiral out of control. The way the story continues to develop and the dialogue draws the spectator more and more into the movie. Everything that happens comes to a great climax and really adds something to the movie. People in the theater were reacting to a drama the way I had never heard people react before; it was quite special for that alone.

I will say that all the acting, the story, and dialogue gives this movie a special feeling. The fact it has humor in the beginning mixed with dramatic elements throughout the shows the talent that everyone involved delivered on set. The only problem I have with this movie is that the somewhat “climactic” ending came a little too early for me. The fact there are two different stories following Walter and Porter also takes a little something away from the movie as well. The two stories don’t really mesh together all that well, but at the same time they needed to be there for character development. When all is said and done, “The Beaver” delivers something unexpected, and will keep you talking for days (if not longer) about all the little nuances of the overall package.

Limacher Low Down: I will start off by saying that I had reservations about watching “Hoodwinked!” a few years ago, and when I finally broke down and watched it I laughed REALLY hard. “Hoodwinked Too!”, though it is missing the vocal talents of Anne Hathaway as Red, really delivers MORE laughs than its predecessor. Both of these movies give the kiddos something to be entertained by, yet the humor of both (especially Hoodwinked Too!) is enough to entertain everyone. The jokes come at such a fast rate I will have to see it again just to pick up on what I missed the first time from being doubled over in laughter!

“Hoodwinked Too!” continues where “Hoodwinked!” left off, with Red (this time Hayden Panettiere), Granny (Glenn Close), Wolf (Patrick Warburton), and Twitchy (Cory Edwards) joining the services of Nicky Flippers (David Ogden Stiers) and the Happily Ever After Agency (HEA). The movie gives a quick recap of the events and characters of the first movie and starts off with the HEA attempting to rescue Hansel (Bill Hader) and Gretel (Amy Poehler) from the clutches of the evil Witch Verushka (Joan Cusack). Red is not there for the mission and it does not take long for things to quickly get out of hand, and immediately the humor begins. Verushka gets away with Hansel and Gretel, and even Granny gets taken hostage! The story has to develop somehow, right?

We move on to see that Red has been training with the “Sisters of the Hood” to become the best ass kicking baker in the land. Red gets news of Granny’s disappearance and seeks to join her fellow members of the HEA to locate Granny and rescue Hansel and Gretel – she has a full plate. The movie develops well here with the gang headed into the “city” to try and get some answers from Granny’s old informant, Jimmy 10-Strings (Wayne Newton). Jimmy 10-Strings works at a club called the Beanstalk, and his boss is simply known as the Giant (Brad Garrett). Once again, things quickly get out of hand for our heroes, but somehow they get the information they were seeking.

Next we get introduced to a familiar face from the first movie, Boingo the Bunny (Andy Dick), in what can be simply put as a great parody of a classic movie. Boingo reluctantly gives the duo more information than he had previously intended, but the information was seemingly too little too late. Now the plot rapidly develops as we learn the intentions of Verushka.

Red and Wolf continue their bickering ways and Wolf decides for Twitchy and he that it’s for the best for the HEA if they go on their own separate path from then on. In a rather humorous and unexpected twist, Wolf is visited by some enemies of his fairy tale past; the Three Little Pigs of Mad Hog (Cheech Marin), Stone (Tommy Chong), and Wood (Phil LaMarr). Narrowly escaping the attempt on his life, Wolf and Twitchy decide that it’s time to go back and right the wrongs of the past and make sure this story does indeed end Happily Ever After.

The movie delivers many twists and turns and keeps the laughs going throughout. I have heard some people say that these movies are a cheap Shrek knockoff, but I can honestly say that I laughed more in the first 15 minutes of “Hoodwinked Too!” MORE than all 4 of the Shrek movies COMBINED! The humor, the references, the themes, and continuity made the first movie enjoyable and its sequel even better. There are only two bad things I can say about “Too!” Hayden Panettiere as the voice of Red does not live up to the job that Anne Hathaway did in the original. Another part I didn’t care for was the fact the only way this movie was being shown around me was in 3D. The 3D effects mostly fell flat and a person would be just as well off seeing the movie in the standard 2D format. Those two things aside, if you’re a fan of the first one or even if you haven’t seen it, I assure you that “Hoodwinked Too!” delivers the laughs most of the movie.

Click here for more images thanks to Disney!

Limacher Low Down: Most of us, if not all of us, have at some point seen the Disney Classic Bambi; and with the recent re-release of the movie on Blu Ray I believe it has become a necessity to own it once again. The movie is a CLASSIC piece of American cinema, and remains a steady cultural reference to this day. But married with the technology we have today, somehow the magical folks at Disney managed to enhance perfection!  It is better than ever and with all the extra features Bambi Blu Ray Diamond Edition is MORE than worth the price-tag.

Bambi begins in the forest where there is a commotion afoot, the birth of the NEW “Prince” of the forest. Every animal in the forest flocks to see the Prince, and this is our first glimpse of Bambi. From his first steps, he is surrounded by all of the forest creatures, all enamored and enthusiastic at his arrival into the world.

There is something very human about the reaction the animals have, and the incredibly expressive animation does an excellent job capturing that “human” nuance. People can relate to their own family moments, Bambi is a story about the miracle of life, and is a very human experience as well.

Bambi quickly makes friends with a little rabbit, Thumper, who is precocious and adventurous. Thumper lives like there is no tomorrow and is willing to take the risks his siblings are not willing to take. Bambi quickly takes to Thumper and together they start a little adventure through the forest. Along their journey Bambi is taking everything in when he quite possibly “smells” a new acquaintance, Flower. Flower is a skunk mixed in with actual flowers.  Bambi mistakenly assumes that he is a flower too, and being a skunk “Flower” is not quick to correct the misnomer, so it sticks.  Because he is a skunk Flower is self-conscience and is happy to cover what may deter others from wanting to be his friend.

Bambi quickly learns the lay of the land from his mother, and gets the words of advice that will help him in the present and future as well. Bambi sees the majestic Bucks running free and is immediately intrigued. Bambi’s mother warns him of the hazards that are part of the forest, namely man. Bambi is out with his mother when they come across another Mother and fawn.

Bambi is immediately intimidated with the other fawn due to his natural shyness around “girls”, but he is thrust into an introduction with Faline. After a brief conversation, Bambi and mother run wild and care free in the open meadow, and Bambi can see the simple joys of being a deer.

Some time passes and it is now winter in the forest. Bambi is taking in all the different experiences, and in one of the most memorable scenes of the movie, Bambi learns what it is like to fall. Bambi attempts multiple times to get up, but never stops trying. This is such a good metaphor for everyone to never give up because eventually it will happen if you just keep moving.

Now spring rolls in, and Bambi starts off to see the changes this new season brings the forest. Bambi’s mother locates him, and as they are frolicking in the meadow, she notices that the Great Prince of the Forest (Bambi’s father) has detected a smell and a disturbance in the forest, again it is “Man”. Man is in the forest, an eternal phrase to us all.

Bambi and his mother are fleeing like all the other animals, and Bambi runs as fast as he can. He makes it to safety and in one of the most poignant scenes in cinematic history, Bambi’s mother does not return. This is something that had never happened in a Disney movie before, a character died. This was bold and risky but people often forget we never see her get shot, it was only implied which brings forth even more dramatic effect which is often overlooked. Bambi, now without his mother, has to learn and adapt on his own – just like that, his life is forever altered.

Some time passes; Bambi has aged a bit and has started to develop his horns. He quickly finds Thumper and Flower and as the three walk around the forest they notice something they never saw before, boy and girl animals in close proximity. The three friends quickly agree that they will never let a girl split them up from one another. Quicker than you can blink an eye that rule quickly fades into twittterpation.  One by one they each discover what the other animals had known as well, girls are good. Bambi sees Faline for the first time, and sees her as never before.  He is instantly attracted.

Bambi and Faline are walking together when a smaller buck, Ronno, challenges Bambi for Faline’s affections. Bambi is learning so much about the nature of being a deer in a limited amount of time, and without his mother to help educate him it is now up to him to do what is right. Once again, this movie depicts an all to human emotion, as Bambi learns that some things are worth standing up and fighting for in life.

Bambi and Faline are walking together when the two hear loud noises and run away, only to get separated. Faline looking for Bambi is in peril, and Bambi is seeking for Faline to see if she is alright. Bambi does what he can to protect Faline, and show her how much he cares and how he can protect her. A devastating, accidental fire was started by man while away hunting and Bambi and Faline run away to seek shelter from the flames. We later see the devastation that Man has caused to the forest, and see how their lives are forever changed.

And then, in another classic Disney moment, a new Prince is born, and the cycle of life continues – moving forward as Bambi and Faline create their own Prince.  In fact, all the mature friends have their own offspring, and we see here the resilience of nature vs. Man, yes, but nature writ large, that we all identify with as we care for our little princes and princesses – hoping to prepare them for the fires that will forever change their lives.  We all hope to do the best we can and to keep the cycle of love and the hearth warm, lest we forget that we will someday be gone, not returning from the meadow to see them through their life struggles.

AMAZING Blu Ray Extras:
Disney Second Screen: Watch the Blu Ray and access wireless to a laptop or iPad, you can access this special feature. This allows viewers to delve deeper into the world of Disney, the forest, the animators, the process, and even shows sketches and allows you to pause the movie and animate a scene yourself.

Inside Walt Disney’s Production Meetings: Did you know that Walt Disney had a person transcribe all of his production meetings for his movies? I didn’t know this, and with the Blu Ray Combo Pack you have the ability to watch the movie and hear reenactments of the meetings while the movie is playing. This allows the viewer a greater insight to the vision that Walt had envisioned for Bambi all along. This feature also allows the viewer to stop the movie and get more insight to certain details that are discussed in the meeting which adds greater depth to the story and gives the viewer a greater understanding of the movie as well.

Disney’s Big Book of Knowledge Game: This is an AWESOME feature for kids of all ages, and educates as well. Owl asks questions that are part of the movie and things in the forest, and correct answers result in “stickers” that can be placed in a special Sticker Album that each person can make their own. There are multiple levels and seasons to be explored, and the more seasons attempted the more stickers can be earned.

Deleted Scenes and Song: The Blu Ray also includes two never before seen deleted scenes which adds more content and story that we never knew about. There is also a deleted song which is something that fans of the movie will enjoy as well.

Limacher Low Down: Source Code is a well told story full of WHAT THE F^!K moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out not only what happens next, but also what just happened! I rarely find myself sitting in a movie not questioning the reality of what is going on, but also to be so drawn into what is going on that makes every scene more intense and fulfilling than the last. Rest assured that this movie packs more punch in a PG-13 rating than many of its R Rated counterparts in this day. If you want to go for a ride that as soon as the credits roll, you’re ready to go again; then I suggest you enter the Source Code.

Source Code is an intriguing story which takes a soldier and uses him to enter the mind of someone else. Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) is the first person to test a unique and new system of doing this very science called “the Source Code”. He is asked to have his mind “transported” into the body of a passenger on a train that has been blown up outside of Chicago, which is an apparent terrorist attack. Colter has eight minutes to seek and find the person or persons responsible for the attack, and do what he can to thwart the attempt.

Colter has distorted visual and audio contact with the people overseeing the project, Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) and Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright). These two are the only contact he has to give him the greater understanding of his mission, and to also fill him in on any possible background information. He observes everything that happens around him and starts looking for suspicious people any way he can. The only person who knows the person he is in the body of on the train is Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan), whom Colter starts to feel closer to each time he enters the train once again.

Colter has multiple attempts to figure out who might be the terrorist or terrorists and has difficulty pin-pointing the culprit. The only fortunate thing for him is that people don’t remember what he did the last time before his time “ended”. Colter, working against the clock, and with the help of Colleen and Dr. Rutledge, starts to get more information about how to make the mission successful. While trying to figure out who may be behind the attack, he also attempts to figure out why he was chosen to be the first person to attempt this new science. This doesn’t skew away from the plot, in fact it adds a whole new dimension of holy shit!

The closer Colter comes at times, the further he gets away from something else which makes this more than just a mission for him, but a set of missions that he only has eight minutes at a time to piece together. Every piece of the puzzle that is this movie fits together nicely, and right when you think you may know what is going on, you realize DAMMIT I was wrong AGAIN! The movie does an excellent job of telling a unique story of vision and heroics, while also having something for everyone to enjoy. Well timed humor, drama, and more explosions than Michael Bay would employ makes Source Code not only a movie, but an unforgettable experience!

Limacher Low Down: I saw the previews for Cedar Rapids and thought it would be the quirky, independent comedy that I tend to really enjoy; I wasn’t let down by this at all! Though it may seem from the print ads and commercials that this is Ed Helms next step into the leading man role, it was John C. Reilly who provided most of the comedy and once again shows how funny he is. I find that being from a small Midwestern town also helped my enjoyment of this movie, but it has laughs for everyone and tells a good story as well.

Cedar Rapids is a movie about a Midwest Insurance Convention that takes place annually in, you guessed it, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The movie starts off with mild mannered insurance salesperson Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), looking into his love life with his old teacher Macy Vanderhei (Sigourney Weaver), his boss Bill Krogstad (Stephen Root), and the people he represents. After a tragic accident to a fellow insurance salesperson, Bill chooses Tim to represent the firm at the insurance convention.

Tim arrives in Cedar Rapids and the first person he meets is Bree (Alia Shawkat) who asks him if he wants to “party” and Tim politely, not knowing the meaning of party, declines the invitation. Once inside Tim goes over his list of people to talk to and those to avoid. The hotel where the convention is becomes overbooked and Tim shares a room with one person Bill told him to associate himself with, Ronald Wilkes (Isiah Whitlock Jr.). Ronald lets Tim know, to save some money, he took on an additional rommie, a person on Bill’s avoid list Dean “Ziggy” Ziegler (John C. Reilly). Tim is hesitant of his newest acquaintance and Ronald and Tim make their way to the “Welcome Meeting”.

The meeting is over and Tim is working out in the gym when he eyes a woman working out as well, Joan Ostrowski-Fox (Anne Heche). After some good-natured ribbing by Joan, Tim meets the Head of the Convention, Orin Helgesson (Kurtwood Smith) in the locker room in one of the most awkward greetings ever seen! Tim, trying to keep up appearances, meets his new acquaintances at the local bar and as they consume shot after shot, Tim orders a shot of Cream Sherry! CREAM F’NG SHERRY! This is where the humor starts coming fresh in every scene.

Tim and Joan team up for the scavenger hunt and begin to bond. In one of the more heartfelt moments of the movie, Tim explains to Joan why he wanted to be an insurance salesperson his entire life. This leads us to the time where Tim truly bonds with Joan and his new found friends Ron and Ziggy. Ziggy pulls no punches about his feelings for Orin and tries to show Tim “the Path of Righteousness”. Tim later on makes what can be described as poor choices in hanging out with his new friends and may have lost more than just his dignity in doing so.

Tim gets an early morning call from Bill alerting him of how he is messing up his own life in just a few short hours and to do whatever it takes to re-earn the reputation of the insurance company. Tim, using some information he acquired, does the job necessary to restore the reputation of the company, but at what price? Feeling bad about what he has done, Tim decides to go to a party with Bree. This isn’t your typical “party” in any sense of the word. Tim finds himself out of his element yet tries to fit in. He calls his friends and they’re on their way to his rescue!

In one scene that was hilarious, Ziggy is making his way around the house to see if he can find Tim and in asking the girls sitting out back if they had seen him their response was “Fuck you Cop!” Ziggy delivers the classic line of “Watch it, Joan Jett! I’m not afraid to Fuck You Up!” The movie takes an unexpected turn here which could leave a bad taste in some people’s mouths, but being from an area similar to Cedar Rapids, it was actually honest in its portrayal as well.

Cedar Rapids has a heart and tells a great story using humorous one liners from the entire cast, especially Reilly, to really tie this movie together. Some may shy away from the style of humor used in the movie, but it is independent and a fresh take on something that never has really been tackled before. If you have the opportunity to see it in your area I say GO SEE IT! Unfortunately there is such a limited release of the movie most may be shit out of luck until it’s released on DVD. If you’re in the mood for somewhat raunchy comedy with heart, Cedar Rapids will fill the need!

Limacher Low Down: Drive Angry 3D is a pull no punches, thrill ride that apparently was SHOT in 3D! The film starts off full throttle and though there were some down parts in the movie, for the most part it delivers quite the bang for the buck. It’s easy to enjoy this movie, but at the same time it’s easy to sit back and critique the shit out of it as well. The characters each develop in their own unique way, and apart from the fact that Nic Cage delivered a line that was his attempt at being serious, everyone in the audience laughed their asses off.  I went in expecting the so bad its good aspect of B Movies, and I left thinking it was so bad it was decent.

Drive Angry starts off with a man named Milton (Nic Cage) on a mission to save his kidnapped granddaughter from the clutches of Satanic Cult Leader, Jonah King (Billy Burke). Milton takes no prisoners on his search and along his way meets the hottest bad-ass chick since Foxy Brown, Piper (Amber Heard). Piper is the type of girl where if you fuck with her she’ll rip your balls off with the flick of her wrist. We see how much ass she can kick when she finds her recent fiancée fucking a neighbor girl. Milton comes to save the day and quickly Piper and Milton are joined on the journey to seek retribution on Jonah King.

On the road someone is hunting down Milton as he hunts down Jonah; his name is simply the Accountant (William Fichtner) who has a cool, calm, don’t fuck with me and you’ll live attitude. (On a side note here, was it an inside joke that Cage actually works with an Accountant at SOME POINT in his life?) On the road Milton seems to be well known, and thought to be dead, but alas there he is. Milton doesn’t seem to look for trouble, but it seems that no matter where he goes trouble seems to find him. Milton believes that he’s on the lookout for Jonah, but Jonah is also searching for him as well. Multiple gun fights between the cult members and Milton keep the attention of the viewer and keep the audience clamoring for more. The Accountant is also seemingly recruiting people to help his effort of stopping Milton in a unique way as well. This is around the point where the movie tends to drag a bit. The action could’ve kept going full throttle, but apparently the need to build the plot line was more important than keeping the audience entertained.

Milton hits a few bumps along his way, but keeps getting up and continuing his goal of retrieving his granddaughter and stopping Jonah King from achieving his goal. Along the way Milton has pissed off every law enforcement agency in his travels and now has to deal with them as well. After a few miles of driving angry Milton needs a new ride to continue his search, and decides to visit his old running buddy Webster (David Morse). Webster explains the back story of how he and Milton know each other, and just who Milton is as well. Webster is serious and straight to the point and Morse in this role brings some drama to the project; this is where Cage tries to do the same thing and gets a laugh from the audience! This is all set up for a scene that would’ve been great involving a shit load of law enforcement and a surprise appearance from the Accountant; unfortunately some of the worse CGI I can recently remember just pissed me off and instead of exciting me, it left me groaning.

We come to the meat and potatoes part of the movie where everything comes to fruition and we find out who the better man is. Some great driving and explosions really pick the action back up and pulled me back into my enjoyment of the movie. I really wanted to enjoy this movie more than I did, but unfortunately the negatives kept adding up for me and really let me down in a way. I knew what to expect when I went into the theater to watch this, but in the end I thought Nic Cage did a better job of acting in Ghost Rider (yeah that epic piece of shit) than he did in this. I say if you’re into ass kicking, bad acting, escape from reality at the movies then go ahead and throw down the extra couple bucks for the 3D glasses and see how it differs from post production 3D.