Haggard

I first saw this movie at a video store and, being the Bam Margera fan I am, had to rent it to see what it was all about. Since I have a huge and stupid (note the word stupid) sense of humor, I found this movie absolutely hilarious. Some of the parts are pointless and random, but that's what makes them so amusing. You'll need to think things like getting slapped in the face and bashed on the head with a watermelon are funny in order to appreciate this movie. I was really impressed.

I was also surprised at the acting. These people actually did a good job. Nothing Oscar worthy, but well enough to get past the amateur level. Teens and young adults would probably find this more entertaining because of the modern slang and situations used. I wouldn't suggest watching this with your parents and vice versa.

All in all, the acting was great, the script was hilarious, and the story is really something you can relate to.

In honor of the late Ryan Dunn, I felt I needed to watch Haggard: The Movie. I watched the sequel to the film made six years after this, Minghags, and really enjoyed it. Seeing this one, it clears up a lot of the confusion I had with Minghags. I wasn't aware this was the predecessor to the film, but seeing it now, really makes me take a liking to Bam Margera's independent style of filmmaking.

Before Jackass, Bam Margera took part in a series of videos he called CKY (named after the band). He wound up making several volumes of him and his friends, like Raab Himself, Ryan Dunn, Rake Yohn, etc, goofing around and being themselves. Then he went on to be a member of Jackass and do his own MTV shows like Bam's Unholy Union and Viva La Bam. Haggard: The Movie was the middle of the road coming out in 2003. A year after the first Jackass movie.

It's supposedly a true story remade with the characters in the movie are played by Bam's friends. Ry (Dunn) is upset when he finds out his girlfriend Glauren (Rivell) wants time apart. He then realizes that she is hanging out with a heavy-metal punk nicknamed Hellboy (Yohn). To help their friend out, Valo (Margera), Falcone (DiCamillo), and Raab Himself (Raab) all try to vandalize Glauren's house. But Ry is still sinking deeper and deeper into a mental depression.

The humor is totally up my alley with lots of rough housing, name calling, and well acted, natural conversations. The movie is not too long or too short. It is perfectly managed. The only downside is it has one montage too many. Many of the montages in the movie are set to skateboarders with rock music by CKY, Gnarkill, and H.I.M. in the background. I have no problem with any of the music played, but there are at least four montages in the film that go on for way too long.

Other than that, the film is pretty close to perfect. I was under the assumption that since most of these guys are used to doing dangerous stunts they couldn't really do justice acting in a full length movie. I was way off. They pulled if off perfectly. In no way was I expected Bam and Dunn could both act as well as they did.

Between the soundtrack, the filming style, the humor, the acting, and the story, Haggard: The Movie wins in every category. Except the fact that the number of montages can be tedious, and the subplot of an invention doesn't really take off as much, but we see it done with more in the sequel. Haggard: The Movie is not only a great film, but a great way to remember an amazing actor and daredevil.

Starring: Ryan Dunn, Jenn Rivell, Bam Margera, Brandon DiCamillo, Chris Raab, Rake Yohn, and Vincent Margera.

When I first heard of this movie, I was mildly interested. The plot seemed like an opportunity for hilarity and Bam Margera as an actor and director seemed like something that might be good. When I found out the movie starred Ryan Dunn, I was even further interested (I was a fan of Homewrecker when it was on... Yeah, I'm that lame). However, I didn't have much faith in it being to good. When I sat down to watch it, I was afraid I was wasting my time.

But even just five minutes it it became apparent that I'd been wrong.

I thought that the comedy of this film was delightfully idiotic, and definitely not suited for all kinds of people. The acting was rather good, much better than my expectations. I thought that it was rather easy to relate to Ryan's character, which gave the movie a center that was believable. This is key in a movie as outrageous as this (and is probably why I was not a fan of Borat).

The movie is not suitable at all for younger people, DUH, and will definitely create more than it's fair share of awkward turtles if watched with parents. But it's a good one for you and your buddies on a movie night.

We came 1,400 miles from Tulsa to check out "Bam's CKY Preview" party at the Trocadero in Philly - just by chance we ran into Bam Margera at FDR Park - I said "yo bam" and talked to him before he skated....he thought it was cool that we had come all that way - when we told him that we wouldn't be checking out the world premiere of "HAGGARD" on Monday because it was sold out he told us to meet his folks at West Chester and "we'd have tickets"......we did and they did. These people are all so cool and real down to earth - they are having a blast with their new celebrity.

Now to the flick....... "HAGGARD" is a scream.....this is a Camp Kill Yourself fans dream come true. Ryan Dunn's whole sick situation is brought on by himself and the guys are without mercy. The whole thing revolves around Ryan's weak ass relationships....so funny when you throw in such helpful friends as Bam Margera, Brandon DiCamilo and Chris Raab and of course Rake Yohn as the evil one. This is a real movie folks......with a plot, script, characters the whole thing - Bam and Brandon have done a killer job of putting this together. The obnoxious and disgusting things they do in order to bring revenge on Ryan's slut of a girlfriend played by Bam's real life love Jenn Revel. We also get to see DiCamilo go off on one of his classic freestyle tangents trying to market a "reverse microwave" - I think Brandon gets better drugs then most of us......just kidding.

So the movie is real funny. Side splitting funny....with a little rad skating thrown in for fun. The entire cast and crew showed up for the premiere and hung around the theater to talk to fans. One of the best times of my life...a killer independent film...and a damned kickass effort by Bam and his entire West Chester Crew.

jp

The first time I saw this movie I was like what the hell is this.. but there were definitely some laughs. Watched it again and its still pretty funny. I'm a big Bam, CKY, HIM, Ryan Dunn fan, so this movie basically covers it all. Sure its a dumb movie..it's not supposed to be any kind of masterpiece, but..if you feel like watching a weird, moderately entertaining movie..go for this one. Raab and Dico have pretty hilarious characters and Bam and Ryan are a little more..normal..sort of, but whatever they're just cool people in general. This movie is like a little Jackass mixed with some random stuff mixed with some cool time-lapse cinematography set to some good HIM songs. So come on, watch it at least once.