A Girl, Three Guys, and a Gun

I have to admit that I am a little biased toward this movie because it was shot in and around my hometown. Brent Florence delivers with his first feature film, filling the roles of writer, director and actor with surprising prowess.

Despite it's very low budget, this movie is highly entertaining while providing a refreshing social commentary about power, control, hope, courage and responsibility.

The characters are well developed and work together seamlessly.

I was kind of shocked to see that so little people took the trouble to vote for this movie, and rated it so low: I liked it quite a lot. Not only has the movie -in it's genre- an intelligent and surprising script, it also has some pretty nice acting in characters and events that aren't simple at all (though the character-background-psychology-stuff is a bit thick). I payed only 1 Euro for the DVD, and I don't get why: With the right publicity and some luck I think this could have been a bigger movie.

Though the script isn't realistic and finds part of its humor in exaggeration and exploiting clichés, I also saw some real people and touching moments. I liked the Joey character a lot, I'ld like to see more of that guy.

Overall it has a nice warm sympathetic atmosphere, the picture seems to've been made with a lot of love and dedication (Low-Budget!). and for me really worked as a 'feel-good-movie'.

Maybe the lack of real violence, hard action, blood, explosions and martial arts is what makes this movie disappointing to some, but I didn't miss any of those. Maybe that's the whole problem with this movie, but also the big plus: you don't get what you expect. It's just a nice story about nice people who happen to be a bit gangsterish today.

But what would be a better one? Sorry, I don't do titles. The highlight for me is seeing the depth of talent, from all these little known actors. They all do a really good job, and does the director and camera people.

The story is straightforward, mostly. Three young men in a tiny go-nowhere town, not much to do. One is having a problem with his girl Alysha (not the girl of the title) He decides he needs to leave town, so gets a couple of mates. They decide to get some money off people who are gambling and who expect to lose money. So... they go in the back door, burst onto the stage, and then find themselves in the Senior Citizens Bingo tournament. Total proceeds, $512.

Then they leave town. The oldies ring the cops of course, but the sheriff is out of town, so this is the deputy's big chance to actually solve something. "Did they all have guns" he asks an old person. "Who?" she replies. That's just one of many great little gags that come throughout.

The deputy figures that the kids will go away by the Old Pass road, and he's right. The old car breaks down. So the kids hijack the Caddy of Dave and Hope (the girl). There is confrontation and drama when they go to the abandoned farm. One says "I don't want a girlfriend" after Hope turns the tables on them - she gets the gun AND the Cadillac!

Eventually the cops come and the kids are caught, taken to the Honor Farm. Then, the final scene is back at the bingo hall where the guys are now required to help out. "I'd rather be at the Honor Farm" says one.

Based on the comments above I rented the movie. If it was a gem, perhaps it was garnet. It was in the Comedy section at the rental but I found no laughs in it, not even a chuckle. I would put it on the low side of m mediocre. Early Henstridge, otherwise nobody I've heard of in the movie. The acting was sub-par, everything was predictable except the actions too irrational to be expected. Basically three half-wits hold up a bingo parlor and get away with a few hundred bucks to cover a trip. then their car breaks down and they steal one belonging to a couple who were out necking. They bring along the couple. a few "zany" events ensue.