The Almost Guys

I volunteer each year to help with the Palm Beach International Film Festival. One of the drawbacks is that my responsibilities keep me from seeing any of the films play in front of live audiences. One of the benefits is that, after the festival is over, I get to borrow "screeners" to watch the films at home. Some are just so-so, but once in a while a really polished gem shines through.

One of the best feature films I've seen in a long time is an independent film by a young writer/director named Eric Fleming. The name of the film is "The Almost Guys". It hasn't been distributed yet, but is expected to open in Florida in theaters in the near future. It's smart, funny and perfectly balanced. I loved the story, the characters, the acting, the camera work, the editing...everything about it. "The Almost Guys" is a story about a down-on-his-luck repo man (Eric Fleming) and his 73 year-old partner (Robert Culp) who find a major league pitcher (James Edson) bound and gagged in the trunk of a car that they repo. The World Series is three days away.

This movie has everything going for it. It's a buddy movie, an action flick, a side-splitting comedy and a touching father-son road trip. The cast is rounded out by Shawnee Smith, playing the pitcher's ex-wife (you might remember her from "Becker"), and Oliver Davis as the repo man's 12-year-old son.

Put it on your must-see list. Put it on your Netflix.com list. You'll be glad you did. Take a look at the trailer at www.thealmostguys.com. Tell your friends.

Howard

I recently saw this movie at a screening in Los Angeles and was very pleasantly surprised. It's the most refreshing movie I've seen in a long time. It was filled with incredibly original, sweet silliness.

It's basically about a repo man and his son getting accidentally involved in a crazy road-trip caper. Eric Fleming was so natural in the lead. I can't believe he was also the writer and director! The relationship between him and his son (who is now a regular on ER) was heart-warming and hilarious. The entire cast was great, from Jim the baseball player to Robert Culp as the partner. Refreshing is definitely the word. I'm still laughing over the character Bigger.

Hopefully this will get released soon so my friends can see it... and so I can see it again.

It appears that this is Mr. Fleming's first feature. Great stuff. Looking forward to the next one!

Well, what can I say about 'The Almost Guys' other than the fact that it's probably one of the finest comedies that I've seen in a very long time. It harks back to an era when you could actually watch a comedy and not pause half way through it and say, 'What the hell is going on here?' Hats off to writer/director Eric Fleming who adopted the 'k.i.s.s.' method of film-making. When I say k.i.s.s. I don't mean the rock band Kiss I mean, 'keep it simple, stupid!' a philosophy that should be adopted by most young filmmakers. Simple, yet well- crafted jokes & comedic moments that allow the viewer to sit back and leisurely enjoy the adventures of 'Rick Murphy' & his side kick the 'Colonel'. In an effort not to ruin any plot lines, I'd say that if you're someone who enjoys the simpler things in life like a good laugh, clever story telling and muscle cars, then this movie is definitely for you.

Right from get go, we follow 'Rick' as he goes about his daily routine of repossessing cars and getting his ass kicked. What a way to start a movie! This coupled with Rick attempting to restore his relationship with his son and in the process accidentally kidnapping a Major League Baseball pitcher is an uncanny combination of hilarity and heartfelt emotions. Oh, and I can't forget the 'the Massimo's', oh my god, those guys had me in stitches. I'd compare this film to 'Caddy Shack' or 'Cannonball Run' in the sense that it stays grounded in reality even during its most outrageous moments. This film also pays homage to the great Burt Reynolds comedies of the 70's & 80's, which for fans of the genre, is a true blessing. Especially now, with the passing of the beloved Rodney Dangerfield, one can argue that Eric Fleming is on the path to becoming the next Harold Ramis. There, I said it!

i saw this flick at the phoenix film festival and automatically liked it. then as a few days went by i realized i loved it. especially when i was at a hotel and i came face to face with the bed spread. its a charming story with good humor. there's action comedy, romance... and if it were 15% less funny, i'd still love it. i got the chance to meet the director, producer, and co-star. they were fantastic people, and i wanted to say that the brief conversation we had actually inspired me to finish my film. working on it now. if this show is playing at any festival near you, it'd be worth it to spend the x-amount of cash just to see this film (and you might as well sneak in a few more) but i'm just saying, i wouldn't miss it.

-sean

Endearing characters, good relationships, funny twists. Just shows what's possible in film without needing huge special effects in every scene. Robert Culp's performance is subtle and hilarious. The kid actor gives an amazing, non bad-actor- kid nuanced performance. Eric Fleming did an amazing job not only starring in this thing, but writing and directing it as well. Usually this is a recipe for disaster-- in independent film it's almost guaranteed to be a narcissistic, "me me me" suck-fest, but somehow-- miraculously-- Eric manages to create a film that is not all about him- it's about an ad hoc and unlikely *family* that emerges from absurd and very funny circumstances.

Great comic sensibility. Great ensemble. Oh, and I should also give props to Shawnee Smith... she's great in everything.

If you're lucky enough to have this film comes to your town, definitely check it out. It's the kind of movie you can show someone who's never seen an independent film before, because it's a great example of what can be done with a small budget and big talent.