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 viewed this film at the Temecula Valley Film Festival. Comedies are usually laced with coarse language and sexual innuendos, however, I was pleasantly surprised with The Mini. Because most comedies are crass, I hesitated to see The Mini.

How refreshing to view a film with a positive message---the good guy wins over the bad guy. The story was told without words that needed to be bleeped out or without sexual innuendos or scenes that no one else needs to see.

May I suggest to film makers and Hollywood, that this example be followed.

Thank you Mr. Director. I will be looking for more of your films and tell others.

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.

The Mini stands apart...

With this roller-coaster comedy that from a pure entertainment standpoint is so far ahead of the average dark or dreary indie film, you are going to have FUN! In anywhere USA Fran Molon is a normal guy with really bad luck. And he works with some low-grade characters at a riff-Raff bedding store. He only gets to sell futons, which is obviously not cool! The annual mini marathon (hillariously and ironically sponsored by the fight against "Competitive Psychosis") is around the corner and Fran gets involved. He is going to run against his nemesis at work for a promotion, which is just absurd and also really simple and fun.

THE MINI is definitely an indie film in that the cast and crew are no-names and it is shot on digital. But that is where the low-budget description should end. It is really well directed and acted and the production is off the hook with all the colorful and unique locations.

In short, have a good time with this flick, knowing you're seeing something "special"!