Expiration Date

OK, it's very rare that I complain something I got for FREE. So I guess this movie pushed me over that limit. I saw it at the Hollywood Cemetery for FREE and walked away very very disappointed. One audience member's question to the director about using the Native American references just as "bookends" instead of being weaved into the movie better, basically says everything that this movie FAILED on.

NATIVE American REFERENCES--- The Native American references felt really out of place and contrived. It's obvious that this director and writer tried tackling an arena they never played in before. They should have stuck to the old adage of "write about something you know". IF they are in fact versed in this it certainly did not show on the movie or the beauty of this unique culture was not given proper justice.

Clichés and ON THE NOSE--- I agreed to see this film on the basis that it was an indie. So I held it to higher expectations. "Little Miss Sunshine" was an indie and saw it before it became so popular. Before it even came out to wide release I was already raving how it's going to be a hit. UNFORTUNATELY I could not say the same about "Expiration Date". "Sunshine" took us to cliché incidents but the filmmakers were so clever at their approach that the outcome would take us to a different direction avoiding the trap of being a "cliche". This movie on the other hand had no way of not falling in the trap because it was already TRAPPED from the start. The psycho mom's antics, the Hendrix couple, etc.

I hate to say it, but the best and WORST movie I've seen this year were both indies. "Little Miss Sunshine" being the best and this movie being the worst. I wish I could say otherwise.

But I do congratulate the filmmakers for having such a good turn out from their family members at the cemetery.

I enjoy films that are different but not stupidly different just for the sake of it. And this one has a different premise that's enjoyable, for sure. The title refers to the fact that the young man believes he is doomed to die on his 25th birthday because he will be hit by a milk truck.

It sounds far-fetched, but the filmmakers make it work. Although low budget, the production values are good, and the director has a sure hand. The cast is universally likable, and the performances never drag.

He also utilizes Seattle landmarks exceedingly well, without being cloying as some hometown filmmakers might be tempted to do.

Yes, there is a Native American theme that crops up, but the film is not preachy or weepy as some films like that can be. It's far more universal than that - it's about people, it's not about a cause. Which of course means that it affects you more deeply than a preachy film would because it's not hitting you over the head. Plus it's a comedy! If I am defining the film mostly by what it isn't, I apologize. I guess I've seen so many low budget films that fail to engage me, that I am pleased and relieved to find one that does.

Oh, and special mention goes to cast member Dee Wallace (the mom from "E.T.") who plays a mom here. She has one of the funniest lines in the movie - I won't give it away here - but you'll be pleasantly shocked to hear it come out her mouth and laugh out loud. One of the funniest lines ever said by any mom in any movie, I swear.

Do yourself a favor and rent/buy this sleeper little hit.

I so appreciated not being taken out of the movie by messing with the geography like in Sleepless in Seattle where Tom Hanks gets in a rowboat on Lake Union then a few minutes later he puts ashore in Puget Sound. Or in Feast of Love having Reed College be Portland State University.

I saw this film at the Native American Film Festival at the Swinomish Community Center. A classmate of ours in Anacortes, his family owned a dairy in my high school years. Guess what? We used to "drag the gut" in that milk truck. Those milk trucks were very funny.

My father, his sister and brother all died young. I had just come up to the age my father was when he died. Then I saw this film. Yes, you think about that. Much rang true in this film. A further truth is in my high school a brother and sister in separate accidents were killed by trucks. Had either one of them had a child, you bet that child approaching their age of death would be keeping an anxious eye on trucks.

When you face that moment of truth when you look death in the eye what saves you are your roots; your spiritual roots. The native spirit is very strong. In my times of trouble I have been blessed with that spirit showing up in many forms. When Robert danced; a powerful spirit moment was in play. It was thrilling.

Nice ensemble performance, it was a kick to see David Keith. It was a fun romp. Hearing Robert Guthrie and Rick Stevenson speak added to the fun of seeing the film.

I heard Rick on a local radio station last week talking about the films' plot and that it was shot entirely in Seattle. It intrigued me. After making sure I was not going to see rated "R" fare, I traveled from Federal Way last night to the Egyptian Theater. I was pleasantly entertained and would not not hesitate to have my wife and teenagers see the film.

It was also good to see some actors/actresses I recognized; Dee Wallace Stone, David Keith, Nakota Larance...

Rick and company: Thank you for a truly enjoyable experience. I especially enjoyed the Native American scenes.

A film with a core idea that should work but really just doesn't. This film has all the ambition of a quirky indie comedy and especially reminds me of garden state but really lacks the finesse. Its very much a film that suffers from poor direction, editing and some bizarre sound. The way the sound has been mixed on this film is really quite bizarre with the dialogue sounding almost dubbed in due to the lack of atmosphere sound and over use of soundtrack which with a guess is down to the use of radio Mic's over a boom leaving us with to clearer sound. But the biggest faults i have to pick are that the script feels under developed and forced while a large selection of the shots leave us feeling disconnected from the characters, its really a film that feels like it could have needed an extra 6 months development.