The Mini

THE MINI is a funny, sweet, often laugh-out-loud surprise of an Indy film. This Mini has a BIG heart and it's pitch-perfect in its aim and no-budget execution. I caught a screening of it at the Temecula Valley Film Festival this fall. It played to a packed house. Later, I also caught it again on DVD, it was so much fun. The Temecula Valley Film Fest crowd I saw it with loved it. It's a low-budget comedy about the under dog geek in us all as we just try to get by, do our job, find the-significant-other-of-our-dreams and run that mini-marathon of life. This film is so true to itself and hasn't an ounce of pretension in it. The performances are spot-on and wonderfully endearing. The film's director creates a sense of good will right from the start that remains infectious. Maybe it won't cure cancer or change the world, but it's a refreshing tonic to so much of the self-important, terribly hipper-than-thou Indy nonsense that seems to wash up wherever you turn now. The Q & A session at the Temecula Fest with director Ron Beck was a revelation and inspiration to all Indy filmmakers out there. Beck wrote a solid, funny script and then, with no previous film-making experience to speak of, he maxed out a couple of credit cards and for about half what the average person would spend on a year's college tuition he assembled a terrific cast and production crew and just did the thing. I can't help thinking that this is sort of like the "El Mariachi" of super-geek comedies. Beck has a great story sense, plays the laughs and emotions perfectly and made a very nice film. Beck and company deserve much credit and thanks for this little gem. If he writes another script and he and his gang make another film, I'll certainly buy a ticket.

What's a loser to do when he's even smaller than the small-time? Win the Mini!

Fran Molon works in a small mattress store in a tiny town. And he's not even allowed to sell mattresses. Fran only gets to sell futons. Fran's nemesis is Rick, the cocky, womanizing mattress salesman who is a shoe-in for the new assistant manager position.

In this hilarious battle of losers, Fran just needs to beat the state champion at a mini-marathon, and win the heart of the lovely Carmen. This loser just might pull it off.

In The Mini, director Ron Beck has taken everything small about no-budget independent films, turned them into strengths, and created a true gem that will appeal to audiences of all ages and persuasions.

The story is filled with zany characters like Fran's best friend Dale, a lovable, swaggering mall security guard who dreams of being a cop, and Roy, the overeager citizen that dreams of being a mall security guard.

Fran Molon is played to subtle, geekish perfection by Larry Dahlke, who works well as a poor-man's Steve Carell.

The film is filled with all the marks of a no-budget independent film, but they are packaged into story, setting, and characters that just make it all work. It is truly a small film with a huge heart.

I watch a lot of indie films and everybody is so Godamn serious all the time it's always some topic like the war or drug abuse or abortion or relationships. It was different to see an indie filmmaker just make a simple heart warming comedy. I saw this curious little film recently at the Big Island Film Festival in Hawaii while vacationing with my wife and two daughters. It's about a guy who works at a mattress warehouse store who challenges his nasty workmate to race in "the mini" (a mini marathon in Indianaplois). At first I had a hard time rooting for this guy because he was such a loser with no self esteem. But he evolves and becomes a lovable loser, and then by the end of the film, a winner. Me and my family walked out the movie with big smiles on our faces.

Another thing I liked about this movie was the absence of needless foul language or stupid sexual innuendos. You can take your family to this film and not worry about them being subjected to hearing the f word for the one millionth time.

A subtly scathing and hilarious look at middle America. Most independent comedies try to ratchet up the raunchy, but this film takes a different approach with goofy characters and absurd plot twists. On its surface, the movie is a sweet, fun-loving ride that kids of all ages would enjoy, but if you look closer there's a layer of cultural commentary that makes the film a more thoughtful comedy than most with some rather devious, subversive wit. And can anybody tell me why Chris Stack isn't a superstar? The man is hilarious in this film. Now I've got to go rent everything else this guy has been in. A very funny and sweet film.

A hilarious comedy! "The Mini"'s humor may be compared to that of "Napoleon Dynamite" or "Office Space" only with lighter, funnier, and quirkier characters. Certainly not a complicated movie, "The Mini"'s story moves fast and keeps your interest from opening titles to ending credits. It is a heartwarming film where acting and writing come together seamlessly.

I saw this film at the Big Island Film Festival and had the opportunity to meet the producers. For their first full length feature this independent film's quality is astounding considering what a small budget it was made with.

"The Mini" is a fun movie that is easy to watch and is enjoyable for any age group.