Starring: Jason Lee Tom Green Leslie Mann Megan Mullally Dennis Farina Tammy Blanchard
Synopsis:
I pressed play on this DVD, knowing only that Tom Green was starring in the film, and that it was something about Harvard University. I have seen other Tom Green films and I expected to be cringing throughout. Fortunately though, this was not a `Tom Green’ film perse - he was only acting in the film (though he does, as usual bring a lot of his own demented personality to the role) and I was not subjected to any acts of mutilation or bestiality, which seem to be favourites of Tom in his own films.
Tom however, is not the lead in this film - that role is played by Jason Lee (Clerks, Almost Famous). Lee plays John Plummer - a man who turns to a life of crime to fund is nieces college education, rather than tell his fianc? that he needs to use the money that they have been saving for a deposit on a house. Elaine Warner plays John’s bride to be, Leslie Mann. Leslie owns her own gift basket business and is the daughter of John’s boss Mr. Warner (Dennis Farina).
We see that John and Elaine have the picture perfect life - they are in love, and saving for their own house so they be married - Mr, Warner hates John and isn’t afraid to SHOW it. John suffers from the constant threat of being massacred by Leslie’s father if he was to do anything to hurt her - this and the fact that Leslie is completely neurotic (she sobs during sex) drive him to turn to Green’s character Duff for assistance. John soon finds himself in a series of ridiculous situations, including being forced to dress in drag at gunpoint - which become worse and worse - all to avoid the possibility of upsetting Elaine and suffering the wrath of her father.
This movie is quite funny in places and I enjoyed watching it - though it was not the most original film I have seen, the characters were sometimes hilarious and this made up for the predictability for the most part.
Megan Mullally (Will and Grace) also has a small part in this movie, as John’s trailer-trash sister Patty. I was surprised to see that she does have a normal voice - but her normal pitch didn’t make her any less funny.
Overall I enjoyed this movie. This is the type of film you watch on a Friday night with a heap of sugary food and fizzy drinks.
Special Features
This DVD is pretty thin on the extras - included are 5 deleted scenes. 3 of these featured the fabulously trashy Patty - and I was happy to see more of her as Mullally is hardly seen in the final cut.
Also included are some trailers for a few other recent films, and a selected filmography on the cast and crew.