Electric Slide

Dodson owns a furniture store and aspires to a glamorous lifestyle he cannot afford. He borrows money from the bank and then a loan shark. As repayment pressures mount he resorts to bank robbing to fund his debts. He also teams up with a vacant blonde who likes to spout movie dialogue rather than talk with real feeling and their love story is a meaningless sidebar. The problem for me is Dodson is an unlikable man, he steals from friends and wants things without working for them. Sturgess portrays Dodson as ineffectual rather than charismatic which leaves you wondering why the bank tellers he robbed all liked him. I felt no emotional attachment to any of the characters.

The score also misses a trick opting to use generic synth music rather than some of the definitive 80s tunes. Its a stylish enough film but has no emotional core. The period is evoked sufficiently to feel like a period set piece. Could have been better with the talent involved.

Every frame is like a painting. I'm glad I got about halfway through before I realized the absolute artistry of the lighting and focus. Just wow! And, as I said, I was midway through before I saw the beauty of the scenes - because I was _really_ "into it"! Maybe I am not as emotionally invested as the other reviewers (I am not from La La Land, but I've spent enough time there to recognize and absolutely hate it) but I really enjoyed this film!

OK OK. I cannot totally trash this movie. On the other hand......... YES, I watched it pretty much because of the "name" JIM STURGESS. I have admired him for his work in various films. I was anticipating good things.

OK OK. I blame the director. WHO apparently OK'd Jim's silly costume, as well as that ridiculous mustachio, BUT. Here's the WORST: I always note that the Really BAD Actors wander around "expressing" emotions by keeping their Mouths OPEN ! what ??? WHY ?

Sweet JIM, in this role, kept his mouth open throughout PLUS had a scene of chewing gum......I mean CHEWING gum.......what? why?

As an actor, Jim should've protested. As a director ? I'm sorry, it was a waste of supreme talent.

When I saw the trailer and the cast-list I thought that this looked really promising, when I saw the IMDb rating my hopes of it being great went down a bit but I thought maybe it could still be alright.

But it was just incredibly bland and initially extremely confusing to the point where it was barely comprehensible, 30 minutes in or so it gets slightly more focused telling a more linear story.

Jim Sturgess in the lead can be great but not in this movie, him speaking as if he's nose is constantly clogged up doesn't do him any favours.

Isabel Lucas is the female love (?) interest and I was surprised that she had so many credits on IMDb cause frankly she's like a empty vessel in this movie, I thought she was a model and was gonna write that she should stick to modelling but yeah she's actually a full-time actress.

Chloe Sevigny is in it for a couple scenes, she plays someone who had a thing with Jim's character prior to Isabel Lucas entering the picture she barely has any dialogue.

Christopher Lambert plays the mob (?) boss with a really fake-looking prosthetic nose Jim's character owes money.

Patricia Arqutte is in it for a couple scenes as well as some random milf with a look inspired by Brigitte Nielsen.

You don't really get to know any of the characters or given much info on what their relationship to one another is or given a reason why you should care for the fate of any of them for that matter.

It makes some half ass attempts at some comedic moments as well.

So yeah not terribly impressive.

One thing I don't understand: the listings with my TiVo said this movie was based on fact, and yet the closing credits include the statement that it is a work of fiction.

Occasionally this movie is funny, and I'm sure it was supposed to be. But it's not quite a comedy. It's also not the wild and wacky adventure I expected from the description. It's still somewhat fun to watch.

And then there is the quirky and very friendly Sue, who I immediately recognized as Kate Micucci of "Raising Hope", who is cute.

Jim Sturgess does a good enough job as the lead. If he wasn't supposed to be a John Stamos type, then I would say he succeeded.

Several clueless bimbos hang out with Eddie, but they are played by respected, big-name actresses. I guess that's okay.

There are other quirky characters in the night clubs and other hangouts where Eddie goes.

One of the detectives seems intelligent enough, so I wonder why the cops can't seem to do anything. I don't remember the detective's name and I can't see any clue in the credits. But it was a good performance, whoever it was.

I think this was worth seeing.