"100 Mile Rule" is a comedy about three Detroit salesmen on business travel who become embroiled in scheming and scamming in L.A. This journeyman little low budget B-flick is a nominal no brainer watch for anyone interested in the something to chill to. Just keep expectations low and don't expect any LOL's. Lightweight entertainment for the male sofa spud sans tit-illators. (C+)
22 Reviews
Good, but not great comedy!
starwheel197224 March 2005
Warning: Spoilers
The movie was funny, but the message was "dark". What are the consequences of losing out to temptations? Do you really want to risk everything you have? The "boyfriend" and his untimely end was a total surprise to me! Since I'm from the Midwest, I can see how Bobby can be tempted while visiting the Southern California area. By the way, Maria Bello would tempt anyone! She is a very beautiful and talented actor. The story reminds me of another comedy called "The Guy Thing". It told of the temptations that a guy has to endure prior to his upcoming wedding. Again, it's the "other woman". However, that movie would not be considered a "dark comedy". In fact, "The Guy Thing" has a much happier ending than this movie. All in all, "100 Mile Rule" is very entertaining and worth viewing
What happens in Vegas.....
lastliberal11 April 2007
OK, so it isn't a great movie. Who cares? It has Maria Bello and that's enough for a peek if you have nothing else to do. She plays a con artist who takes advantage of the saying, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." In this case, it's what happens 100 miles from home doesn't matter. Businessmen at a corporate training trip taking advantage and getting caught. The movie spends a lot of time filming the trainer. Time wasted that would have been better spent film Miss Bello. Our loss. Also stars Dawn of the Dead's Jake Weber, and The Ring's David Dorfman as father and son. There are a bunch of others in the movie, but hey, I'm watching because of Maria Bello so i really don't care about them.
A Good Laugh at Men at Work
flickling14 July 2004
"One Hundred Mile Rule" turned out to be better than I expected from the very brief and bland synopsis provided. As a Jake Weber fan, I decided to go ahead and watch it, anyway. The three primary men in this movie get embroiled in a mess and don't quite know how to clean it up. If you read the synopsis, you get the general idea, but this movie only really comes together and gets interesting when the guys try to take matters into their own hands, as you may imagine. Maria Bello is seen in an interesting light, much different from her character on ER. It's not a five-star movie, but it's worth checking out for a good laugh, especially for Jake Weber fans.
Little known but definitely worth watching
MBunge12 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
It wouldn't be quite right to call the comedy-noir 100 Mile Rule "charming", however a smart script and several very nice performances makes this one of the little films you never heard of but are glad you grabbed off the video store shelf.
Bobby and Jerry (Jake Weber and David Thornton) are mechanical parts salesmen from Detroit. They're attending a sales seminar in Los Angeles with their manager, Howard (Michael McKean). Bobby's a devoted family man, Jerry's a sleazy horndog and Howard's like a very smart and successful fusion of the two. When they're not stuck in a tiny conference room listening to a consultant go on and on, the three men try to have a little fun in LA in the spirit of the "100 mile rule". That's Jerry's theory that whatever or whoever you do, it doesn't matter if it's 100 miles from home. Jerry and Howard are quite content to indulge in strippers and hookers. Bobby, though, wants to stay faithful to his wife Katherine (Shawn Huff). He probably would have, if he didn't run into Monica (Maria Bello), a waitress/aspiring actress who works in the hotel bar where Bobby is staying. She's cute and vulnerable and throws herself at Bobby until he finally gives in. Then we find out Monica may be cute and vulnerable, but she's far from innocent. She's part of a scheme to blackmail Bobby. Neither Monica nor her big, violent boyfriend Paul (Nick Chinlund) came up with the scheme, but she quickly takes over the plan from its originator. When Monica gets a little too greedy, Bobby turns to Jerry and Howard for help and the best laid plans of everyone involved go really bad, really fast.
100 Mile Rule is a well written film. It has the mark of all smart scripts in that you can't tell where the story is going before it gets there. It's not hard to put surprises into a movie, but it's not easy to make them believable surprises and that's what this movie has. There are several points where the story could have gone in one direction but it makes a 45 degree turn to be just a little funnier, just a little more realistic. The only real flaw in the writing is that when everything has gone to hell, Bobby takes a walk and when he returns he's suddenly this in-command badass. He's the main character and his major transformation happens off screen while we're looking at Howard's planning to dispose of a body and Jerry's decent into cocaine-fueled paranoia. I always think it's a little cheap to push big, dramatic moments off to the side like that. It was sort of clever the first few times movies and TV shows did it, but it's gotten to be its own cliché now.
The smart script is helped out a lot by very good work from the cast. Jake Weber has to make us believe Bobby is a genuinely decent guy and then he has to make us believe he would do this bad thing and not have us hate him for it. The film can't work unless we want Bobby to get away with it and Weber pulls it off by making the character nice enough to root for but not so nice that you'd like to see him taken down a peg or two.
Weber's job is made easier by David Thornton's and Maria Bello's convincing and well-thought out roles. It becomes easier to not judge Bobby harshly because we can contrast him with Jerry, who's a much bigger ass and loser in every way. Jerry is desperate, crude, self-centered and he makes Bobby look much more sympathetic. Even though Bobby cheats on his lovely wife, the comparison with Jerry makes him look like a good man who's made a terrible mistake and not a jerk who deserves what he gets. It also helps that Bello is tremendously appealing, making it simple to believe the Bobby couldn't resist Monica. And as the story unfolds, Bello refrains from making Monica into a stereotypical femme fatale. She shows the vulnerability in Bobby isn't completely an act, it's part of who she is and you see it in the rest of her behavior.
Michael McKean should also get high marks for his portrayal of Howard. He doesn't have much screen time in the first half of the film, but still manages to establish Howard as a tough-minded, take charge guy so you can understand Bobby and Jerry turning to him for help. There's a funny scene where Howard is haggling with a couple of hard-edged hookers and Howard's behavior, while humorous, establishes him as less wholesome than Bobby but more grown up and less pathetic than Jerry.
100 Mile Rule is a truly adult comedy. Not "adult" in the sense that it has bad language and boobies, though it does, but adult in the sense that it's funny about real things and real situations and doesn't go over the top into adolescent ridiculousness.
As I mentioned before, 100 Mile Rule is one of the myriad of titles on your local video store shelf that you've probably seen and passed over many times before because you've never heard of it and there's nothing about it that stands out. While most movies like that are fairly crappy, this is one of the rare ones that is pretty good,
Bobby and Jerry (Jake Weber and David Thornton) are mechanical parts salesmen from Detroit. They're attending a sales seminar in Los Angeles with their manager, Howard (Michael McKean). Bobby's a devoted family man, Jerry's a sleazy horndog and Howard's like a very smart and successful fusion of the two. When they're not stuck in a tiny conference room listening to a consultant go on and on, the three men try to have a little fun in LA in the spirit of the "100 mile rule". That's Jerry's theory that whatever or whoever you do, it doesn't matter if it's 100 miles from home. Jerry and Howard are quite content to indulge in strippers and hookers. Bobby, though, wants to stay faithful to his wife Katherine (Shawn Huff). He probably would have, if he didn't run into Monica (Maria Bello), a waitress/aspiring actress who works in the hotel bar where Bobby is staying. She's cute and vulnerable and throws herself at Bobby until he finally gives in. Then we find out Monica may be cute and vulnerable, but she's far from innocent. She's part of a scheme to blackmail Bobby. Neither Monica nor her big, violent boyfriend Paul (Nick Chinlund) came up with the scheme, but she quickly takes over the plan from its originator. When Monica gets a little too greedy, Bobby turns to Jerry and Howard for help and the best laid plans of everyone involved go really bad, really fast.
100 Mile Rule is a well written film. It has the mark of all smart scripts in that you can't tell where the story is going before it gets there. It's not hard to put surprises into a movie, but it's not easy to make them believable surprises and that's what this movie has. There are several points where the story could have gone in one direction but it makes a 45 degree turn to be just a little funnier, just a little more realistic. The only real flaw in the writing is that when everything has gone to hell, Bobby takes a walk and when he returns he's suddenly this in-command badass. He's the main character and his major transformation happens off screen while we're looking at Howard's planning to dispose of a body and Jerry's decent into cocaine-fueled paranoia. I always think it's a little cheap to push big, dramatic moments off to the side like that. It was sort of clever the first few times movies and TV shows did it, but it's gotten to be its own cliché now.
The smart script is helped out a lot by very good work from the cast. Jake Weber has to make us believe Bobby is a genuinely decent guy and then he has to make us believe he would do this bad thing and not have us hate him for it. The film can't work unless we want Bobby to get away with it and Weber pulls it off by making the character nice enough to root for but not so nice that you'd like to see him taken down a peg or two.
Weber's job is made easier by David Thornton's and Maria Bello's convincing and well-thought out roles. It becomes easier to not judge Bobby harshly because we can contrast him with Jerry, who's a much bigger ass and loser in every way. Jerry is desperate, crude, self-centered and he makes Bobby look much more sympathetic. Even though Bobby cheats on his lovely wife, the comparison with Jerry makes him look like a good man who's made a terrible mistake and not a jerk who deserves what he gets. It also helps that Bello is tremendously appealing, making it simple to believe the Bobby couldn't resist Monica. And as the story unfolds, Bello refrains from making Monica into a stereotypical femme fatale. She shows the vulnerability in Bobby isn't completely an act, it's part of who she is and you see it in the rest of her behavior.
Michael McKean should also get high marks for his portrayal of Howard. He doesn't have much screen time in the first half of the film, but still manages to establish Howard as a tough-minded, take charge guy so you can understand Bobby and Jerry turning to him for help. There's a funny scene where Howard is haggling with a couple of hard-edged hookers and Howard's behavior, while humorous, establishes him as less wholesome than Bobby but more grown up and less pathetic than Jerry.
100 Mile Rule is a truly adult comedy. Not "adult" in the sense that it has bad language and boobies, though it does, but adult in the sense that it's funny about real things and real situations and doesn't go over the top into adolescent ridiculousness.
As I mentioned before, 100 Mile Rule is one of the myriad of titles on your local video store shelf that you've probably seen and passed over many times before because you've never heard of it and there's nothing about it that stands out. While most movies like that are fairly crappy, this is one of the rare ones that is pretty good,
below-average effort
dav1234_199922 January 2003
I saw this movie at a film festival (Fort Lauderdale) and what a waste of time and money. The only thing going for it is the presence of the beautiful and talented Maria Bello; however, the viewer wonders how someone of her talent got mixed up in a below-average effort like this one. The major problems are a deficient script that couldn't get a passing grade in Screenwriting 101 and what can only be described as amateurish directing.
It should have been good but....
triple815 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
Three salesmen take a trip together to attend a seminar. Much chaos and trouble follows.
This was a movie that sounded like it had the capacity to be really good AND it had Maria Bello in it, of whom I've been a fan for several years. Unfortunately the movie left a lot to be desired.
Maria Bello plays the seductress who blackmails one of the salesmen after he cheats on his wife with her. And Bello's actually not bad in the role. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot she can do with the part. One of the main problems of this movie are the characters portrayed. Most of them are so totally obnoxious that it's almost impossible to have any enjoyment in the movie. The plot is overshadowed by the unlikeable element of almost everyone and sometimes they seem like caricatures rather then characters.
The movie has many plot twists, some of them even are rather unpredictable but none of them are very interesting, in fact much of the movie doesn't make any sense. There's a lot of arguing amongst the three salesmen which becomes unenjoyable, overplayed, and tedious. Bello's character lacks any complexity whatsoever and the movie becomes to dark and a mishmash of arguments, and plot contrivances. Any interest in the movie at the beginning slowly dissipates due to the slow pace and above mentioned goings on.
Although this isn't a movie I thought was terribly good, it may appeal to people who are major fans of black comedies (a genre that is not among my favorites though I have seen some movies of this genre that are absolutely outstanding.) But even the black comedy purist may have problems with this as it just isn't one of the best of the genre.
I did appreciate the reference to the movie "Very Bad Things" (a Movie that for some unfathomable reason I did enjoy a bit more then this one.) And I liked the casting of Bello. But the movie itself just didn't strike me as being put together all that great and was disappointing. My vote's 4 of 10.
Three salesmen take a trip together to attend a seminar. Much chaos and trouble follows.
This was a movie that sounded like it had the capacity to be really good AND it had Maria Bello in it, of whom I've been a fan for several years. Unfortunately the movie left a lot to be desired.
Maria Bello plays the seductress who blackmails one of the salesmen after he cheats on his wife with her. And Bello's actually not bad in the role. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot she can do with the part. One of the main problems of this movie are the characters portrayed. Most of them are so totally obnoxious that it's almost impossible to have any enjoyment in the movie. The plot is overshadowed by the unlikeable element of almost everyone and sometimes they seem like caricatures rather then characters.
The movie has many plot twists, some of them even are rather unpredictable but none of them are very interesting, in fact much of the movie doesn't make any sense. There's a lot of arguing amongst the three salesmen which becomes unenjoyable, overplayed, and tedious. Bello's character lacks any complexity whatsoever and the movie becomes to dark and a mishmash of arguments, and plot contrivances. Any interest in the movie at the beginning slowly dissipates due to the slow pace and above mentioned goings on.
Although this isn't a movie I thought was terribly good, it may appeal to people who are major fans of black comedies (a genre that is not among my favorites though I have seen some movies of this genre that are absolutely outstanding.) But even the black comedy purist may have problems with this as it just isn't one of the best of the genre.
I did appreciate the reference to the movie "Very Bad Things" (a Movie that for some unfathomable reason I did enjoy a bit more then this one.) And I liked the casting of Bello. But the movie itself just didn't strike me as being put together all that great and was disappointing. My vote's 4 of 10.
100 miles is how far away you'll see the punches come
DSearch115 July 2005
This film played a couple of indy festivals -- and Cannes -- and then went straight to video. There's a reason no major studio picked it up. It's mind-numbingly slow to develop. To say nothing of clumsy and derivative. The actors seem either under-prepared or indifferent. Even the usually infallible Michael McKean. Maria Bello, authentically less than pure as the cocktail waitress in "The Cooler," essays a similar role here. But she struggles with this femme fatale turn in the Linda Fiorentino / Kathleen Turner mold. The film's pace picks up in the final half-hour. But the action is no less plausible. One of those movies you wish was better -- but it's not. Writer Huff and director Pillsbury are actors who either aimed low or missed a higher mark.
Great Flick
dissention123 November 2004
I picked this up because it had Jake Weber in it, who I love, and because I find Michael McKean hilarious. I didn't know what to expect, but I loved it. The comedy is quite clever and had me on the floor quite a few times. The acting is top-notch. Maria Bello is perfect as the femme fatale and makes sure not to go for the jugular in her scenes, brilliantly underplaying them to snare her game. Jake Weber has the dorky family man role down pat. Everything from the shifting of his glasses to his walk to his horrendous shirts. One of the funniest scenes involves him and his wife attempting phone sex.
Don't expect a mastepiece, it's just lightweight entertainment. But it's incredibly well-made, clever, funny, and well-acted.
9/10
Don't expect a mastepiece, it's just lightweight entertainment. But it's incredibly well-made, clever, funny, and well-acted.
9/10
Walk, don't run to see this one
Rogue-326 August 2004
Warning: Spoilers
I don't believe I would have enjoyed this film in a movie theatre if I'd had to pay for admission, but for a sleazy, at-home, kicked-back-on-the-couch with-a-Screwdriver type of diversion, it was good enough. I agree with Gene 34 that the ending was much too predictable; -=- POSSIBLE SPOILER -=- they could have easily come up with some sort of creative way for him to outsmart Monica, after all. I think Maria Bella, Jason Weber and Michael McKean were far better than the material (which is an understatement), but it's got a good title and a fairly good premise - too bad the writer and director couldn't do more with it. Ultimately unsatisfying and banal. I give it a 4 (the Rogue-32 equivalent of **).
Farther Than you Think
mrwarmth14 July 2004
This is one of those movies where the quality of the acting is far above the material itself. Michael McKean and David Thornton are joys to watch. Also, though the plot is derivative, it is very knowing about business trips and sales people, and if you've ever been on a business trip, you'll find yourself laughing and nodding at many points. The movie never seemed false or strained, just a little weak at the very end. Up to that point, it's an above average investigation of salesmen gone bad. It's a bit like "Very Bad Things" only played more for comedy than for dark drama. Jake Weber, though British, does a very good job playing an American, something that cannot be said of many of his countrymen.
one of the funniest I've ever seen!
misshoney23200012 December 2006
I saw this movie on Cinemax and could not stop laughing. David Thornton was hilarious.The movie is so funny because it so realistic when it comes to the details of traveling salesmen. Unfortunately, this movie isn't getting the justice it deserves, but perhaps that is due to an audience that is tainted by our "contemporary" concepts of "comedy" that have nothing to do with reality. Anyone who appreciates comedy revolving around everyday mishaps and cheap pathetic traveling salesmen, will find that the day to day humor is undeniably hilarious. The plot is crafty, albeit it is a dark comedy but its subject matter still retains comedic value for most open-minded audiences. Michael McKean performs a perfect portrayal of a mid-level sales streetwise sales manager and perfectly complements Davis Thornton's cheap alcoholic character Jerry. I thought Maria Bello's performance was nothing much more than average, and definitely not nearly as realistic as McKean and Thornton.
Male motive in all its ugliness and a thrilling ride.
ministerwithoutportfolio12 June 2004
A movie consisting of excellent performances by Jake Weber and Maria Bello ("Auto-Focus", "The Cooler")and the irrepressible Michael McKean turning in a superb performance in a role that could have been a Jack Nicholson role. Also David Thornton, Cyndi Lauper's husband and a former alternative rock musician, in an unforgettable role as a wild-haired "unhelpful" fellow auto parts salesman to the lead character.
100 Mile Rule is well-directed by Brent Huff and features equal parts of humor, drama and suspense. The film, like Tin Men, captures perfectly the world that most of us live in: working dry jobs, eating crow from your boss, trying to "turn the corner" financially, juggling the family flamed batons of Kids, Sex and Finances but having to deal-day-to-day with less than savory co-workers. And, oh yes, the temptations of the flesh which make a playground upon our suburbia-addled minds. Male motive, in all its ugliness, is splayed open for our inspection here.
A thrilling ride and a mind-bender from start to finish, sit back and enjoy this film and the fine actors at work here.
100 Mile Rule is well-directed by Brent Huff and features equal parts of humor, drama and suspense. The film, like Tin Men, captures perfectly the world that most of us live in: working dry jobs, eating crow from your boss, trying to "turn the corner" financially, juggling the family flamed batons of Kids, Sex and Finances but having to deal-day-to-day with less than savory co-workers. And, oh yes, the temptations of the flesh which make a playground upon our suburbia-addled minds. Male motive, in all its ugliness, is splayed open for our inspection here.
A thrilling ride and a mind-bender from start to finish, sit back and enjoy this film and the fine actors at work here.
Great film.
ewalden28 January 2004
One of the funniest movies I've seen. Tell your friends about this gem. Why wasn't this film on the big screen? The acting, directing and writing is first rate. I loved Maria Bello. She was great in The Cooler but even better in 100 Mile Rule. The quirky music is a nice touch. The chemistry of the three salesman from Detroit works from beginning to end. You will laugh out loud. You can keep your 'Mission Impossible's' and 'XXX'. Give me 100 Mile Rule.
Fantastic film making
charlesandgwen25 December 2002
This is a fantastic film that made me laugh out loud which isn't easy to do. I loved the characters, especially Jerry, whose hair should have its own credit. The film was well written and extremely well directed. I highly recommend 100 MILE RULE.
A great collection of lines
irishfocker9 December 2003
Keeping you going the whole way through, wishing, relentlessly, for more plot twists upon plot twists. Where did all the greatly developed movies go? They're right here. I love this movie simply because it gives you only what you need to go by, it doesn't tell you what anybody else needs to know, and solidly keeps you in your place; An onlooker to a classic plot.
I liked it
Gene 3428 August 2003
Warning: Spoilers
I gave it a nine and I would have given it a ten except for the ending. It was well done and held my interest, because I couldn't figure out where it was going next.
WARNING: SPOILERS FOLLOW. Romantic comedy, satire, almost murder thriller, it kept me interested. I would have like to see more work done on the final resolution and see if Bobby could have gotten away without paying the blackmail. I liked him and he was clever to dispose of the body the way he did, just if he could have somehow tricked Monica at the end. I mean, I don't have the answer to that, but I did enjoy this movie very much, and a perfect ending would make it one of my all time favorites.
WARNING: SPOILERS FOLLOW. Romantic comedy, satire, almost murder thriller, it kept me interested. I would have like to see more work done on the final resolution and see if Bobby could have gotten away without paying the blackmail. I liked him and he was clever to dispose of the body the way he did, just if he could have somehow tricked Monica at the end. I mean, I don't have the answer to that, but I did enjoy this movie very much, and a perfect ending would make it one of my all time favorites.
Great script, great music!
yeshegonpo8 February 2003
Though I suspect this was a low budget film, it comes off pretty big. Michael McKean is hilarious as is David Thornton. I loved the plot twists and Maria Bello as the dark comeditrix. The direction was excellent as well.
The thing that really hit me was the music. The music was such a relief from the typical and predictible scores of Zimmer and the rest of 'em. This composer is the contemporary answer to Henry Mancini. Retro caper meets dark comedy. Completely worth a viewing.
The thing that really hit me was the music. The music was such a relief from the typical and predictible scores of Zimmer and the rest of 'em. This composer is the contemporary answer to Henry Mancini. Retro caper meets dark comedy. Completely worth a viewing.
If you liked "Sideways" , you'll love 100 Mile Rule.
kfloveless25 November 2005
If you liked "Sideways" you will love 100 Mile Rule. Instead of two lovable loser's on a road trip, 100 Mile Rule gives you three. The difference is that in 100 Mile Rule the plot turns dark and sinister. This laugh out loud indie is well-crafted in every way. The performances, script and direction are all top notch. Unlike a lot of Hollywood movies, this film gives the narrative time to unfold. All the characters are developed, calibrated and well drawn. Even the actors with small roles are spot on. Kudo's for director Brent Huff finding the right tone for this dark comedy. What a treat to watch Maria Bello go head to head with Jake Weber, David Thornton and Michael McKean. You can see why Ms. Bello is fast becoming a major star. 100 Mile Rule is a film you could watch over and over and never get bored.
loved it. dark, funny and well paced.
leinla7 September 2003
very nice little film. naughty, dark, funny morality play. a real edge to it. well scored, lighted, shot and directed for a small budget job. hilarious salesman wardrobe details and referential humor. some laugh out loud scenes, too--thanks to strong supporting characters. I gave it a 9.
Absolutely worth watching!
wendi11027 January 2023
Best unknown dark comedy ever made. Wish more people would see it! Jake Weber, David Thornton and Michael McKean are fabulously funny and quirky. Maria Bello does a fantastic job of being the seductress. You never know what will happen when you are away from home with your drinking buddies on a business trip, but as the movie says, if you are more than 100 miles away, anything goes. The question is, will you regret the things that happen or will they be a fun memory? But when more than just you know about what happened, who do you trust? Twists and turns throughout, this movie will keep you on your toes and wanting more.
This movie is AWESOME!!!
bryantodd8 June 2004
It has been a minute since I have seen this movie....However, it is still fresh and amazing. Everything about it from the Directing to the Acting to the Script is great!!! Maria Bello is stunning and a totally under rated as an actress...now getting some much deserved recognition from The Cooler. Brent Huff's direction is amazing...what may have been a low budget film comes across like a big budget Hollywood Movie. I highly recommend this film. You will find yourself intently thinking about the subject matter one minute and then rolling on the floor with laughter the next.
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