I saw this movie tonight at a special screening. I wasn't really sure what to expect, since I hadn't heard much about it other than the title and the cast list. Still, I've loved Lauren Holly since the Edward Burns movie "No Looking Back," and I like Thomas Lennon from "Reno 911," so I figured it can't be all bad.
Well, it turns out that this movie is one of the best I've seen recently. The stars are terrific. Lauren Holly gives a fun, quirky performance as a former teacher who is now a manager at a small motel in Pine Lake, Wisconsin. Once a year the world descends on Pine Lake in the form of Rocktoberfest. Among the attendees every year is the talent booker for the Tonight Show, so two struggling stand-up comics from L.A. decide to do their comedy act in a bar there.
Along the way, they run into a drug dealer, the kookiest cast of misfits around, fornicating horses, a backstabbing fellow comic, and a hit man on a mission. It sounds like the set-up for a raucous low-brow comedy, but while it does have its low moments (the macarena, the fornicating horses, and several fistfights worthy of a "Bridget Jones" movie), this is actually a buddy pic/love story/finding yourself story with a lot of heart, some really great characters, and some insanely funny moments.
Thomas Lennon is absolutely genius as DUG, a second rate comedian who still has the dream. Lauren Holly was terrific. And Pete Schwaba, who also wrote and directed the movie, was a big surprise. He's funny, he's handsome, and he has great comic timing. It's amazing he hasn't been in anything else before.
Comparing this movie to others is hard. I would say it is somewhat like "Sideways" in tone, where it is a hilarious comedy one minute and then a somewhat serious drama the next. I guess it's like "Sideways" without the depressing bits. I loved it and highly recommend it.
Well, it turns out that this movie is one of the best I've seen recently. The stars are terrific. Lauren Holly gives a fun, quirky performance as a former teacher who is now a manager at a small motel in Pine Lake, Wisconsin. Once a year the world descends on Pine Lake in the form of Rocktoberfest. Among the attendees every year is the talent booker for the Tonight Show, so two struggling stand-up comics from L.A. decide to do their comedy act in a bar there.
Along the way, they run into a drug dealer, the kookiest cast of misfits around, fornicating horses, a backstabbing fellow comic, and a hit man on a mission. It sounds like the set-up for a raucous low-brow comedy, but while it does have its low moments (the macarena, the fornicating horses, and several fistfights worthy of a "Bridget Jones" movie), this is actually a buddy pic/love story/finding yourself story with a lot of heart, some really great characters, and some insanely funny moments.
Thomas Lennon is absolutely genius as DUG, a second rate comedian who still has the dream. Lauren Holly was terrific. And Pete Schwaba, who also wrote and directed the movie, was a big surprise. He's funny, he's handsome, and he has great comic timing. It's amazing he hasn't been in anything else before.
Comparing this movie to others is hard. I would say it is somewhat like "Sideways" in tone, where it is a hilarious comedy one minute and then a somewhat serious drama the next. I guess it's like "Sideways" without the depressing bits. I loved it and highly recommend it.