Grassfire

Ordinarily I don't enjoy movies about video games, but Grassfire's use of the device is merely structural. The heart of the movie comes from the relationships among the characters. Considering the film was made only on a $20,000 budget, the acting definitely needed to carry the film, no "Bruckheimer"-esque dependence on explosions and SWAT teams as a crutch. The main character, Randy Johnson (played by Dustin Chase), must balance the responsibility of leading this crew of slackers to complete the game on time against the intrusion of romance into his single-minded pursuit when co-worker Jennifer (Sara Bodenheimer) challenges his views on relationships. In the end, the game is finished, with a comedic "F-you" to corporate scheisters, and Randy finally allows himself to unburden himself and grow. All in all, the cast do an excellent job with a heartfelt script (with the exception of a few cheesy moments and humorous mixed metaphors).

Grassfire is not a complete waste of time. But it is not as funny as it thinks it is either. Before I go any further, I would like to say there are more good things about this movie, than there are bad. But then again I've seen this junkfest.

Grassfire is a harmless tale about a guy, Randy (Dustin Chase) who is leading a group of friends in creating a Doom rip off video game. The characters however spend more time trying to get laid, than they do working. Except for one character whose only purpose is to pop up a now and then and tell us he is working just to remind us that these people are supposed to be doing something when we aren't watching.

First off, the acting was decent at best. Most of the characters are one note rip-offs from similar movies (the American Pie's or any Kevin Smith movie). Dustin Chase looks like he is trying to act like he CAN act, moping around screen sulking about his problems while at the same time never doing one thing to help his cause. Whoever keeps telling this guy he can act should be shot. While Sarah Bodenhemer (playing Chase's forced love interest) is reduced to a plot device character; always at Randy's side to ask him all the right questions to ooze the true feelings out of his character. Maybe she can do better and maybe not and maybe an actual script would help. More on that later, I promise.

Among the standouts are Bart Littlejon and Matt Ragan, who provide most of the movies funniest moments. Bart's scenes with the Minister were the highlights of the movie. Matt's raw performance stood out head and shoulders above the rest and makes you wonder how good he could be with some real dialogue The other characters just seem to be screen fillers, occasionally popping in frame just to remind the audience they are still there.

The real problem is the script. The movie dares to be an in your face comedy but doesn't seem committed to deliver the necessary punches to knock the audience out. Most of the characters, assumed to be in their mid 20's, but babble like fifteen year olds as they try to balance their work like with their sex life. Which makes you wonder how any of these morons are smart enough to work a computer much less create a game. Some of the dialogue is so bad, it makes you wonder if the writer has ever met a `real' person or held a meaningful conversation with a person outside of his parent's basement. Throw in so much excessive cursing that its like everyone had to say the F word every other line just to remind us this is a grown up movie.

Dennis seems to be able to pace a movie, even though some scenes seemed to linger a little long. But his problem here is giving the audience a reason to care about any of these people. The "plot" is forced and predictable and comes to an anti climactic all to convenient finale, with a couple more lines of dialogue that will make you say "Huh?". I would have rather watched these characters hunted down in a slasher film than watch their lives find meaning.

Some of the animation gave the movie a polished look. (The opening credits are clever)

Overall, the film is watch able, with several humorous moments if you can suspend your disbelief that real people actually act like this. (A scene involving pliers and a condom was just plain stupid.) But as with most movies these days, Grassfire depends on crude sight gags and white trash humor. And there isn't enough of either to make this any good. So if you get a chance to see this movie, make the smart move and just kill your self. You'll thank me for it.