The Mini

What's a loser to do when he's even smaller than the small-time? Win the Mini!

Fran Molon works in a small mattress store in a tiny town. And he's not even allowed to sell mattresses. Fran only gets to sell futons. Fran's nemesis is Rick, the cocky, womanizing mattress salesman who is a shoe-in for the new assistant manager position.

In this hilarious battle of losers, Fran just needs to beat the state champion at a mini-marathon, and win the heart of the lovely Carmen. This loser just might pull it off.

In The Mini, director Ron Beck has taken everything small about no-budget independent films, turned them into strengths, and created a true gem that will appeal to audiences of all ages and persuasions.

The story is filled with zany characters like Fran's best friend Dale, a lovable, swaggering mall security guard who dreams of being a cop, and Roy, the overeager citizen that dreams of being a mall security guard.

Fran Molon is played to subtle, geekish perfection by Larry Dahlke, who works well as a poor-man's Steve Carell.

The film is filled with all the marks of a no-budget independent film, but they are packaged into story, setting, and characters that just make it all work. It is truly a small film with a huge heart.

A subtly scathing and hilarious look at middle America. Most independent comedies try to ratchet up the raunchy, but this film takes a different approach with goofy characters and absurd plot twists. On its surface, the movie is a sweet, fun-loving ride that kids of all ages would enjoy, but if you look closer there's a layer of cultural commentary that makes the film a more thoughtful comedy than most with some rather devious, subversive wit. And can anybody tell me why Chris Stack isn't a superstar? The man is hilarious in this film. Now I've got to go rent everything else this guy has been in. A very funny and sweet film.

I watch a lot of indie films and everybody is so Godamn serious all the time it's always some topic like the war or drug abuse or abortion or relationships. It was different to see an indie filmmaker just make a simple heart warming comedy. I saw this curious little film recently at the Big Island Film Festival in Hawaii while vacationing with my wife and two daughters. It's about a guy who works at a mattress warehouse store who challenges his nasty workmate to race in "the mini" (a mini marathon in Indianaplois). At first I had a hard time rooting for this guy because he was such a loser with no self esteem. But he evolves and becomes a lovable loser, and then by the end of the film, a winner. Me and my family walked out the movie with big smiles on our faces.

Another thing I liked about this movie was the absence of needless foul language or stupid sexual innuendos. You can take your family to this film and not worry about them being subjected to hearing the f word for the one millionth time.

The Mini stands apart...

With this roller-coaster comedy that from a pure entertainment standpoint is so far ahead of the average dark or dreary indie film, you are going to have FUN! In anywhere USA Fran Molon is a normal guy with really bad luck. And he works with some low-grade characters at a riff-Raff bedding store. He only gets to sell futons, which is obviously not cool! The annual mini marathon (hillariously and ironically sponsored by the fight against "Competitive Psychosis") is around the corner and Fran gets involved. He is going to run against his nemesis at work for a promotion, which is just absurd and also really simple and fun.

THE MINI is definitely an indie film in that the cast and crew are no-names and it is shot on digital. But that is where the low-budget description should end. It is really well directed and acted and the production is off the hook with all the colorful and unique locations.

In short, have a good time with this flick, knowing you're seeing something "special"!

Not since Napopleon Dynamite has a true indy picture been made with such heart while relying on straight forward storytelling from it's filmmakers. The Mini does not rely on the typical shock effects, i.e. graphic violence/language and unrealistic themes that so many indy pictures do in fact rely on. Ron Beck, writer/director of The Mini, instead relies on actual intelligence and creativity to push this story forward. Where most Hollywood hack filmmakers depend on chase scenes, graphic killing sequences, and unnecessary/awkward sex scenes to fill in the pages, Beck shows a talent for understanding and magnifying simple human characteristic flaws in order to create a very interesting story arc. The Mini just seems to work from the opening scene, and the story doesn't waste anytime getting you to root for Frannie, a character that seems to stay with you even after the lights go up. The Mini will provide an enlightening movie going experience for cinema fans of all ages.