Operation: Belvis Bash

I'd say in politically correct America, awarding Alexander Loy and Joe Walser's politically incorrect comedy Zero Dark Dirty a positive rating is a very risky move. You run the risk of facing major backlash from all over the spectrum, and had this been a more mainstream movie than it currently is, I would assume the media would smother the film with so much controversy and bad-buzz that they'd potentially scrutinize and unintentionally blacklist the actors involved from future films.

I'm here to report that while the film will be found extremely insensitive and offensive to a certain group of people, it is also very funny in the area of light-hearted humor. The film takes many jabs at religious and political notions surrounding the nation of Islam and the Islamic religion, while allowing criticisms towards Christianity and Judaism to be heard as well. The end-result is a film so silly and asinine that to take it seriously and allow yourself to be offended by it would be embarrassing on your part.

The story centers on Alexander Loy's musician character "Belvis Bash," a second-rate singer with the vocals and looks of Elvis and the swagger and clothing of Johnny Cash. Belvis spends most of his time playing at smaller dives until he is discovered by Major Emile Hickory (Mark Metcalf), an unabashedly outspoken man who believes he'd be perfect for the job of traveling to Afghanistan with other musicians, comedians, and actors to perform for the Afghanistan people to show that America isn't populated with a large amount of ignorant, close-minded buffoons who are war-crazy.

Belvis reconnects with May Summer (Noel Britton), an old friend he knew from long ago who aspired to be a singer and is now performing her talents for people in Afghanistan. The other man he meets is the fearlessly racist and hopelessly incompetent comedian Samuel Stilman (Corey Feldman), who doesn't seem to think before he speaks, resulting in the three talents being kidnapped and taken into custody by a group of Afghanistan radicals.

Admittedly, the first forty minutes of the film are a drag. I sat there worried the film, which I had absurdly higher hopes than I should've had for, would quickly evolve into a sea of monotonous jokes and wind up possessing a premise that wasn't fully realized. Then, the film began to realize it was a lawless work of parody, anarchic humor, and politically incorrect silliness, and allowed its actors - particularly, Corey Feldman in one of his most memorable roles in years - a release to play around with the dialog possible in a film like this. Some lines he delivers are innocuous, like when he's riding on a camel through the desert, "This mule needs to go faster!," he yells. Some are more racist and discriminating and not fit for a place in this review.

The reason I'm giving Zero Dark Dirty (whose title is an obvious play on Kathryn Bigelow's Oscar-nominated Zero Dark Thirty of last year) a positive rating is because it has an unsettling and uneasy premise (especially in today's timid times) that it makes good use of. As mindless as the dialog is (written by co-director Alexander Loy), it provides for some shockingly memorable laughs and hilarity if one chooses to make an attempt not to get offended. This film barely takes itself seriously; the last thing you want to do is take it seriously.

Starring: Alexander Loy, Noel Britton, Corey Feldman, and Mark Metcalf. Directed by: Alexander Loy and Joe Walser.

On the war on global terrorism America's most effective weapon, of course, is a C-level rockabilly singer who is a combination of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. I know what you're thinking, "ANOTHER one of these movies?"

Zero Dark Dirty is a comedy in the tradition of the "Naked Gun" and "Scary Movie" franchises. It pokes fun at current popular films while framing it in a somewhat absurd storyline. If you are fans of these types of films Zero Dark Dirty is right down your alley.

The main character, Belvis Bash (played admirably by Lex Lvovsky) is a down on his luck musician. When the movie opens he is performing in a nursing home. He gets the opportunity to be a part of the government's Pop Culture Outreach Program and perform for the people of Afghanistan. He agrees and, as they say, hijinx ensue.

I don't want to give too much away but this is a "fish out of water" story with Belvis trying to understand the local culture. There is even the obligatory love interest in the form of May Summer, played by Noel Britton. She got roped into participating by answering an ad for a musical entitled "Les Miserables: Episode One." There are a lot of these types of jokes throughout the movie.

Oh, and did I mention there are cameos by Frank Stallone and Daniel Baldwin? This movie has everything.

The film pokes good-natured fun at Middle Eastern culture as well as American "decadence." No doubt, the usual group of people who get offended by this type of humor will be offended. However, there is nothing mean-spirited about the humor in this film. While some jokes are a bit cringe-worthy it is all done in good fun.

If you are looking for a good laugh and like pop culture references I strongly suggest you take a look at this film.

Zero Dark Dirty is the kind of film that's like biting into a soft-caramel filled chocolate when you were expecting simply chocolate (provided you like caramel, if you don't insert whatever candy-filling is your favorite). It has the feel of a classic Hope & Crosby "Road to..." movie, but several strange, unexpected elements turn it into a unique viewing experience. It's romantic comedy and political satire, action/adventure and rock & roll musical. You wouldn't think any of these would mesh, but they manage to create a lighthearted and, at times, intensely powerful feature. Lex Lvovsky and Noel Britton nail their starring performances among a star-studded, eclectic cast with such faces as Corey Feldman, The Iron Sheik, Mark Metcalf, Frank Stallone, Daniel Baldwin, and Larry Thomas (the Soup Nazi in an emotionally impacting scene). If you like your Johnny Cash laced with a little Elvis and good-old-fashioned American pride, Zero Dark Dirty is the film for you!

I bought this film from the cheap shelf at the store, and actually thought I had bought Zero Dark Thirty, surprised that it was so cheap already! Even the cover, not only the title, is very much alike the Academy Award winning picture. And it's not the cover shown her, but one really like Thirty. Retrospectively I could find this title almost pornographic, but it aims at an alternative version of the greatest American achievement in their war history. The title of this review is a connection of to quotes from the film.

But then this is a comedy on a very low budget. I was really fooled. I had never heard about this, but nevertheless had to see it. And, if you wonder, it's quit funny, but could probably use with a sharper manuscript.

The second part of this film is much funnier than the first half, so don't give up. Production value is very good to be such a low budget movie.

Belvis Bash is of course a B-artist, which name is playing on both Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, but his real name is Walter, is invited, to say it mildly, to Afghanistan to play. Belvis is played by Lex Lvovsky, which is both director and writer of his. Usually no good combination. The actors at doing great, Corey Feldman is a high point acting as a comedian.

The film is playing with prejudice, bad taste, cultural differences and Americanism, and really has it's moments. It's no laugh out loud film. But it's difficult to satisfy audience with this, and making a whole feature instead of some jokes are almost impossible to succeed with.

The funniest part of the movie is a discussion about Islam and Jewism after 45 minutes, which really is good. It's killed off with a ballad which is not meant to be funny. After 58 minutes we have another high point. From there and out the film is way funnier than the start. The "car chase" which camel is fabulous.

This is fa better than the average American comedy.

This movie is more than it lets on. You don't fully understand it till you get to the end. You also can't explain it without giving away what makes this movie so unique and worth seeing. It has war, religion, a love story, betrayal, and even a spy in disguise. Despite the way the trailer is set up, it's a completely relevant movie to the times we live in. They mask in humor a relevant and valid point.

Operation Belvis Bash is a lighthearted laugh ending with a satisfying punch line. While it may have it's dark political humor, the overshadowing truth is evident. Without having to get too deeply into the storyline and give away all the unique twists and turns this movie takes you on... here's my take on it.

This is a well thought out, well acted out movie. The acting is so much better than it appears in the short clips available. Corey does exceptionally well, he far exceeds what the trailer shows. Walid Amini is an excellent actor, I expect I'll be seeing him in a lot of stuff in the future.

Some of the love story was a little cheesy now and again, but isn't it OK to be a little hokey when in love?

While it may look like a typical comedy fluff piece according to the trailer. Something that was half baked and not wholly concocted. The plot finalization of this movie is what makes its genius. I can understand where the over sensitive would find some of the humor off-putting, the plot finalization brings exactly that into focus.

It is a film worth seeing if you get the chance to see it. I'm pretty sure the only reason they aren't showing it on major venues is because they are afraid of rubbing people the wrong way. Which is the ENTIRE point of this whole movie. Also it is the reason it should be seen. If you can demand it at your local theater, tweet @ them, leave messages on their facebook wall. (Hey! It will only cost you the price of a movie ticket.) This movie is more than a political jab, more than a religious jab, and even more than the jab you give to the rib cage to the guy sitting next to you as you jerk with laughter