I will be very upfront about one thing..."American Rescue Squad" is a very offensive movie. While there is no nudity nor violence, the move is chock full of songs and plot elements that will offend many people. Because of this, I can just about guarantee that the extremely politically correct and extremely religious and many others will hear or see something that they won't like. You have to have thick skin and a bit of frustration about the role of government in our lives to really enjoy this film.
The biggest reason I enjoyed the movie is that despite the film having a low budget, a cast of unknowns and coming from a small studio, it also made me laugh...a lot! It also took a lot of risks and dared to be different...and that isn't something we see enough of in movies. But once again I am warning you that you have to be willing to keep watching it with an open mind and accept it for what it is.
"American Rescue Squad" is a less than subtle but very clever morality tale about personal responsibility and common sense...and two of the main characters in the film are actually called Personal Responsibility and Common Sense!! These two super-heroes have apparently been missing for many years in America and they are called out of retirement when a group of villains (including the likes of The Freeloader, The Bible Thumper and their leader, Congressman Dick Pansy) kidnap The Tax Payer and threaten to execute him! Why? Because these folks inexplicably resent The Tax Payer-- even though he is footing the bill for these characters and their selfish and crazy ideas! Does any of this sound subtle? Nah...but it does make a few good political points along the way that would seriously offend both die-hard Republicans and Democrats....and it does so with humor...and a bit of bad language.
Of all the things in the film that made me chuckle, I particularly loved the songs, such as ones about stupid drivers, unprotected sex and welfare. In fact, if you have a pet peeve, it's most likely to come out in one of their many clever and bouncy songs. This is actually one of the best aspects of the film, as it tended to bring a lightness and fun to what otherwise could have just been a long political diatribe about limited government and responsible behaviors.
I also appreciated the acting and direction. In many low budget films with no-name casts, there is usually a lot of overacting, an uneven script and poor editing. This is not the case with "American Rescue Squad"--as it has a professionalism and nice look about it that you would expect from a pricier Hollywood-style film. This speaks very well of those involved with the production and makes me want to see their work. As a result, I found myself a bit less put off by the occasional tacky joke or some of the more controversial subject matter in the film. Plus, and this is important, while American Rescue Squad holds no punches and seems to be willing to attack a lot of sacred cows, it does at the same time make a lot of excellent points and in very funny ways. In many ways, this all reminds me of the "South Park" franchise--offensive and sometimes gross but also very clever and much deeper than what first meets the eye. Well worth seeing provided you are willing to accept it for what it is.
