Joe-386

Yet another example of a made-for-cable film that started with a workable premise and a couple of really good actors, but managed to screw it all up. Low budget isn't always a bad thing, but somehow the biggest deficit here is in the imagination column. Absurd situations, ridiculous plot oversights and contradictions, supporting actors who just recite lines, and awkward dialogue make this painful to watch. When you find yourself awake and channel-surfing at 3AM, if you happen across this, go ahead and take a look, but don't go out of your way to find it otherwise. Honestly, the Sci-fi channel has talented people at its disposal, couldn't they have managed one more script treatment before production started? At least buy the poor writer a thesaurus and a geology textbook!

There's not much that I can say about this fantastic bit of history that hasn't already been said. Lon Chaney is the best part by far, but I will make this one announcement: when you go to rent this at your local video store, beware the version that is introduced by Christoper Lee. The original score has been "updated," by which they mean raped and pillaged and replaced with bad 80's music courtesy of Yes. Need I say ew?

Oh wow! This movie is so hilarious. If you are from Michigan you have no excuse not to see this, heck, anyone from the upper Midwest will get a kick out of it! If possible, make sure you go and see it in a theater packed to the gills with Yoopers!* The room will literally shake. I just saw it and I can't wait until it comes out on video. The limited release may be a problem for some of you, but that'll undoubtedly change in time. This little gem begins predictably enough, with an unlucky man who's never shot a deer in his 40 odd years of hunting (Jeff Daniels) looking forward to yet another year of bad luck. He arrives at the family's deer camp and endures the traditional ribbing from his father and brother. But then it starts to get weird, eh? This movie isn't all about sight gags or witticisms like some of the more recent humorous films; in fact it's a little surreal. I only hope it doesn't get ignored like so many other independent films. I'll shut my trap now because I don't want to give anything away, it's just too funny!

*Warning, if you have no idea what Yoopers are, or if you are a Troll, you may not understand a good deal of this movie, but see it anyway!