I really enjoyed Trent Harris' bizarre Mormon comedy 'Plan Ten From Outer Space' (no relation to Ed Wood by the way), so I was pleased when I finally managed to see this, his previous movie. Not available on DVD yet as far as I know, it's worth trying to find in the video racks. i can't say I enjoyed it as much as 'Plan Ten...' but it was still an amusing and quirky comedy. Extremely low key, not really belly laugh material, but funny. The more you like Crispin Glover ('River's Edge') and 60s veteran Howard Hesseman ('Billy Jack') the more you will enjoy 'Rubin And Ed', as the comedy is mainly generated from their relationship. Hesseman plays Ed, an unsuccessful salesman who latches on to a weird slacker Rubin (Glover), desperately trying to make a sale. Rubin's beloved cat has recently died and he is searching for just the right resting place. Ed reluctantly assists him on his quest, and before you know it they get lost in the desert. Then things start to go downhill. Glover and Hesseman are both in fine form throughout. The rest of the cast are largely unknowns, apart from Karen Black ('Five Easy Pieces') as Hesseman's estranged wife. (Black also appears in 'Plan Ten From Outer Space') I enjoyed seeing her again as she is a most underrated actress, and I also was amused by the movies running gag involving Andy Warhol. Humour is a very personal thing, and this movie may not appeal to everybody, but I liked it.
