Two Tickets to Paradise

D.B. Sweeney is traveling overseas with the USO allowing service-members to screen Dirt Nap. I got the opportunity to watch the film with D.B. and about 30 others in Idar-Oberstein, Germany.

The movie was well written with some great one-liners (some are raunchy, but not gratuitous). A "late-in-life-coming-of-age" film that shows the that some friendships do endure; success in life requires more than minimal effort; and anything goes good with 42 beers. Funny yet poignant, the movie tugs at the heartstrings at times and knocks you in the funny bone at others. I found myself laughing out loud during quite a few scenes. D.B. validates himself as a writer/director/producer with this film. Do yourself a favor and go watch it (when it gets released, that is).

If you're looking for big budget Hollywood, this movie's not for you. If you're looking for angst ridden sad ending for the sake of sad ending - ditto.

However, if you want something that's fun, endearing, a little off kilter and ultimately redemptive - you've found he right movie.

I enjoyed the lack of formula and some strong emotional performances, inserted artfully in this potentially formulaic "on the road" genre. I enjoyed it because when you watched, it really wasn't formulaic at all, and Two Tix was surprisingly poignant delivering the (non- preachy but clear) messages on friendship, and manhood, marriage and family.

Kudos to DB, and though we didn't see a whole lot of her or like her a lot in this film, Moira still has it.

I ran into DB Sweeney at a bar a couple weekends ago. I told him I was a big fan of the Cutting Edge, for which I expected him to punch me, as I was obviously kidding. However, he was an extremely nice guy and very friendly. He told me about Dirt Nap and explained it as a sort of "red states Sideways." Well that was all I needed to hear. Luckily I know a few people in the business and was able to get a copy of the film. I enjoyed it immensely. To me, the quality of a film is determined by its character development, but more importantly the interpersonal dialogue/relationship among its main characters. I found Dirt Nap to be very strong in this regard and, as such, highly recommend it. Hopefully it will somebody get out in the mainstream so others, besides myself, can enjoy it as well. Kudos to the film, especially considering there just aren't many good ones out there anymore.

In Pennsylvania, Mark Hewson (John C. McGinley), Billy McGriff (D. B. Sweeney) and Jason Klein (Paul Hipp) are best friends since they were kids. Now, they are all around forty and they have troubles in their personal lives. Mark is a gambler with a 27,000 dollar-debt and when his family is threatened by a collector, his wife Sherry (Janet Jones) takes his son with her and moves to the house of her mother. Billy is a truck driver and aspirant guitar player and when he arrives earlier at home, he witnesses his wife Kate (Moira Kelly) cheating on him. When Jason shows two tickets for championship bowl game in Florida to his friends, they decide to organize a road trip to watch the football game. Along their journey, they realize that they are losers and meet several people that help each of them to make self-discovery.

"Two Tickets to Paradise" is a film with a road trip for self-discovery. The loser guys learn that the most important in life is their friendship. The plot is interesting, and with happy ending for the three lead characters. Mark returns to his wife and son expecting to be a better husband and father. Billy becomes more self-confident and take chances in life. And Jason meets Janice and certainly will change his insecurity. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Two Tickets to Paradise"

Loved the movie. Got to view it for free over at my military base in Germany. I will see it again and have no problem paying to go see it next time around. The movie was funny, touching as well as relatable. I enjoyed the bond of the men in the movie. I felt connected to them. Each character had painful things going on in their lives, but the strength of friendship along with encouragement to do better and be better was especially nice to see. Too often we see others be encouraged to be hurtful and destructive. You didn't see it here. It was written well. The acting was fantastic. I felt like I was watching friends having a great time. Nothing looked forced.