Never Been Thawed

I applaud the originality of the story, and I'm proud that it's a local production; but, maybe it's been hyped up around here so much that it was a bit of a let down. I'm not easily offended, and I enjoy "edgier" comedy, but this film seemed a bit lackluster--I kept waiting to laugh out loud about something, and I never did. I caught the smaller visual jokes and thought some of them were clever, just not hilarious. I also think I expected the film to be a Spinal-Tap-like spoof, and in some respects it was (punk band goes Christian). However, I felt as if the writers perhaps didn't have enough jokes to write about that so they also flushed out the frozen entrée angle. Maybe if the film had just settled on one thing rather than both, it could've been a bit more fluent for me.

Everything about this extremely low-budget mockumentary is either extremely hilarious or brutally, BRUTALLY bad. I'm going to start with the bad so that I can leave this review on a high note. The absolute worst thing about NBT: Never Been Thawed is the acting. It's obvious that most of the dialog is improvised, but it's also obvious that most of the cast has never acted before. I know they were trying to make a comedy along the lines of the Christopher Guest comedies like Waiting for Guffman and Best In Show, but they just didn't have the actors to pull it off.

But when it comes to absurd scenarios, NBT borders on genius! It's about a group of "Frozen Entrée Enthusiasts" – or rather, it's about a group of huge dorks who actually collect microwavable TV dinners. Not only do they collect TV dinners, but they actually get together every week to talk about the new meals coming out, and they buy and sell and mix and match meals amongst each other. Insane. The group's leader is also the lead singer in a punk-turned-Christian-rock band called "The Christers". Best line of the movie has got to be: "So the formula for Christian rock is basically – man has problem, man finds Jesus, Jesus solves problem." Some of the other dorks in the "Frozen Entrée Enthusiasts" club include a clown who cuts children's hair at a salon called Klown Kuts. He's in love with a 35-year-old virgin who works at the William Jefferson Clinton Abstinence Center. There's an efficiency expert whose main hobby is playing the highway alphabet game (the one sanctioned by the Arizona Highway Gaming Association). And there's the restaurant owner who opened the No Choice Café next to the abortion clinic to cater to the anti-abortion protesters who are always hanging around. The menu reads: "What would Jesus choose?" NTB: Never Been Thawed is brilliant in its absurdity, I give it that. I laughed more in this film than any other this week. But the actors constantly remind you that you're watching a low-budget farce with really bad actors, and that's a shame.

Who would have thought a mock-u-mentory about a Christian Rock band who collect frozen food would have done it for me. This is one of the most hilarious movies I have seen in my entire life. Sean Anders did an exceptional job with his directing in this low budget comedy. Excellent acting by just a few average Arizonans and really what Bill Mueller said was true, it should be this year's Napoleon Dynamite. Only problem is that the movie's production company is not as wealthy as MTV films. It is available for rent on Netflix and soon to purchase on the official Never Been Thawed Website at http://neverbeenthawed.com. I HIGHLY Recommend IT!!

... and if you ARE easily offended, go see a Disney flick.

I saw this with a group of friends last night and we could not stop laughing during the entire film. The story line itself, combined with an amazing number of sight gags lurking in the background (people reading magazines such as "Apathy Monthly" and "Trophy Wife" and posters on the walls like the one at the Christian Cafe that said "What Would Jesus Order?") makes it certain that I will see this again to catch what was missed. It is a SPOOF, people; go with an open mind and a desire for some laughs and you will NOT be disappointed. Watch closely, as great humor is EVERYWHERE in this film...

I just watched this wonderfully humorous film at the Harkins in downtown Tempe, after which The Christers played an entertaining set of four songs. I believe this was featured at the Phoenix film festival and was brought to Harkins. I was pleasantly surprised by this film. Centering around a group of frozen entrée collectors this film leads you in a documentary style through their lives and oddities. If you like the more commercial and prominent funny movies that are churned out one after another in the endlessly unoriginal fashion of all those Ben Stiller pieces of excrement then this movie may be a bit too "edgy" for you. However if you revel in a more unique and (again) "edgy" sort of comedic experience i encourage you to see this, for if you do i venture to say you will thank yourself over and over. I believe this film has a great chance of making it nationally, as i think it's just being seen here in the Phoenix area for the time being. Also, if you are uptight about Christianity you may be offended by some of the content of this movie and some language. If you got through the movie "Saved!" alright you'll make it here. But again, if you do see this movie prepare to have a sore abdomen because you'll be laughing and repeating lines hours later with friends.