Kwik Stop

The usual summer line-up isn't complete without the mandatory "Boy Meets Girl" comedy. These films are not to be taken seriously for the intended reason that they are a mere subterfuge for other activities within the theater.

This film begins with some of the light hearted comedic sense of the "BMG" films but with fluidity that captures the viewer into the fantasy. Fantasies never last long and fluidity turns to turbulence and a sense of chaos. Soon enough, the viewer is awoken from paradise and thrown into what could be described as a David Lynch type directive with the unknown striking at any moment as if one is driven down a road in complete darkness, with twists and turns imminent.

This film is not sugar coated and you will not be spoon fed. It is not meant to be "Chicken Soup for the Soul", however, may leave you searching for what comfort remains.

Prime video popped this film in front of us and my partner and I were enchanted from the get-go.

Super-tight script, clever cinematography plus great casting with mad events occurring.

This story has a romance about it as well as narrative repetition which proves and disproves.

All the characters are likeable albeit flawed and engagement is easy.

There is also a comic element throughout.

Lots of archetypes, lots of beautiful shots and a soundtrack that works.

Film is interestingly hard to place in terms of intended era. There is a mixed-up stylistic feel. We would watch it again.

Highly recommend.

Easy, breezy indy 'road' flick taking place in small town, USA. The title being metaphorical.

Well written with actors giving dead on performances. After first viewing and feeling full 'n satisfied I made a second run through Kwik Stop and worshiped the dialog. Tightly written and delivered invoking awe, in each scene, of the direction. Yet the film does not hem itself in as the very last scene invokes a theme from earlier that blows open the possibilities of the final three characters. With rumination, I like the ending more and more; realizing the screenwriter's almost dare to the viewer.

Yes it is, yet another youth 'learning and growing' distopian tale that have been coming so frequently of late, and seem to be the 'fast ticket' to Sundance/Hollywood (thank god for p2p). In this style, the lyrics of each song fills in the natural voids of communication between the proto-typical teens, and does this well.

There is little to no violence or nudity, shocking or otherwise, to stir up inflated buzz. This results in Kwik Stop having to be judged on more quaint qualities where it smacks the 'brown bunny' with 'love and a 45'. (The bunny 45 thing is a reference to the film's peers and are not in Kwik Stop.)

I really liked this movie. Seemed like a regular indie movie about self-centered young adults, but really became something else. The movie quickly runs away with itself. I just read the Ebert review. He said Kwikstop "follows its characters where they insist on going". I agree with him that this is what makes the movie surprising and fun.

It is curious too how the characters "grow up" during the movie. In a way the film-making and acting also mature as the film continues. It goes from quick and self-conscious in the acting and camera-work to long static jim-jarmusch (stranger than paradise) like shots and virtuoso performances. It is really strange. By the end you feel like you are in a different film altogether. I had that feeling of inevitability watching the characters struggle that all good fiction gives me.

Also there is a monologue in this by the character Emil (Rich Komenich) that I have just watched a hundred times. Totally gives me chills every time. Just brilliant.

I would totally see more movies by these people.

I saw this film at the 2001 LA film festival. Loved it. Direction is flawless, performances outstanding, cinematography excellent. Could be cut down by a few minutes, but otherwise, a brilliant film.

Looking forward to more output by all involved.