Pass the Ammo

This movie was under appreciated in its time, and is now a forgotten gem. Released in the era of the high rolling TV preachers and their scandals, and the song "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex" was on the radio, it is a great commentary on greed and hypocrisy in the name of religion. Annie Potts in the highly sexualized "Samson and Delilah" scene was priceless and Tim Curry was, well, he is Tim Curry. He rocks the screen in everything he does. The ever watchable Bill Paxton is the bad boy hero and just adds to the amazing cast. I just wish someone would release this on DVD. Or Netflix. Or Amazon Instant. I would love to be able to share this with my friends. Hallelujah, Pass the Ammo, Praise the Lord!

first i was one of the people that did not make it to the credits. i was the fat boy that bill used as a shield from the cops.

i enjoyed watching just as much as being there.

this movie was not just a comedy, but a close look at the televangelist, this was filmed at the height of jim and tammy's trouble, and jimmy swagard's trouble, we received script changes that where a mirror image of events that were still unfolding in the press, many changes happened before it was in the press.

Don't expect much subtlety from this broad but skin-deep satire of TV evangelism, in which an amiable quartet of amateur thieves takes over a TV temple and holds the clergy hostage against a siege of state militia, local police, yellow journalists, and resident vigilantes (can you guess who gets the most sympathy?). The script is more than a little self-satisfied, taking earnest potshots at easy targets without inflicting any serious damage, and except for Tim Curry (who plays the greedy preacher with his tongue firmly in cheek), the holy rollers and gullible worshippers are all too exaggerated to be convincing (it's hard to fake so much bogus sincerity). But once the stand-off is finally underway (after a set-up stretched twenty minutes too long) the story relaxes enough to give the characters room to have fun. The film is certainly no 'Dog Day Afternoon', but it does have its moments, and no one can say it isn't lively. Too bad the real thing (Jim and Tammy Baker; the good reverend Swaggart et al) is so much funnier.

I love this movie. I really loved the character who played "Bubba". Can you tell me anything about him? I think his name would have been listed in the credits but I could never find it. A must rent for the gang to enjoy most on any movie night. I am a big fan of fan Bill Paxton and I love him in this movie. I am surprised that he has not gotten more roles like this. This movie was a all-star cast of unknowns at the time, but as history has bore out, they are all stars in their own right. I have never been to Arizona to where this movie was filmed, but I am planning a vacation there to see where they filmed this movie soon. Anthony Geary was amazing also. Just love this flick so very much.

With a cast like this attached (Bill Paxton, Tim Curry, Linda Kozlowski, Glenn Withrow, Annie Potts, Anthony Geary and Brian Thompson decking a flowing mullet), I'm surprised to see this comedy to be somewhat of a under-seen cult item which is a mildly humorous spoof on televangelism. Sing it, hallelujah. Praise the lord! Jessie and Claire along with two other friends go into a ministry to rob it, because Claire's inheritance went to the church but they accidentally stumble upon the ministry's live TV set while trying to flee. So they end up holding those inside to ransom, while the cops wait outside and many viewers watch on. The cast are just great. Curry is simply sensational as the smooth talking TV reverend (who makes a memorable first appearance) and so is an over zealous Potts as his eccentric wife. Then you have the likes of Paxton and Kozlowski as the buoyant young couple. Geary is also quite fun as a free-spirited member of studio crew and Leland Crooke as the level-headed sheriff. The zany plot is a basic standoff, but it's the cleverly scathing script that makes good use of the situation to parody these showy religious outings filled with glitz to cover the underlining corruptness. It's a sideshow with over-the-top antics (especially when some gun toting rednecks and the national army gets involved) and neon qualities, as characters open up and America watches on. You'll be glued to the screen.

"Jesus doesn't live in a TV studio. He lives in my heart".