We started watching this terrible film and were actually enjoying it in a "The Room" kind of way at first. Both have weirdo main characters and actors, both films were pretty absurd with equally terrible acting. Then about 2/3rds of the way thru my wife googles this Richard Condo guy and what we read in the news made it no longer funny.
The film starts of telling the viewer that it is not based on a true story - but that it IS a true story. The only problem is that they leave out major parts of the "true story". The fact that he kidnapped and beat his ex-wife so badly that she needed facial reconstructive surgery. The fact that his new wife and lawyer (who somehow has a cameo in the film as herself even though she is also being played by an actor) once told police he threatened her life. The fact the main character who is played by the real life main character (who is also the director) is a clinically diagnosed psychopath. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Ian Hector said "The perplexing thing about people with psychopathic personality disorders, and Mr. Condo is certainly one of them, is they can be charming, cordial, engaging and appropriate one minute, and the next instant display an unpredictability that is shocking and sometimes extremely violent. He reads people with a swiftness and accuracy that is remarkable ... within seconds, he can determine weaknesses and needs of people, and, if he determines he can use you, he fulfills those needs."
To me, this explains how Condo was able to use the real life death of his brother (who died from a motorcycle crash during production) as some sort of climax to the film even though he is never mentioned at all beforehand. There is even a (not at all funny) blooper reel on the DVD that ends with a car crashing sound. Damn.
I was given this DVD by a friend who used to drink at a bar that Condo and his wife/lawyer drank at. Condo came in with a box of DVDs and handed them out to everyone at the bar. My friend never bothered to watch it because he said the guy was too creepy. I think he hit the nail on the head with that comment.
