Sweet Dreams

I wasn't expecting a Jackass movie but I also wasn't expecting Johnny Knoxville to act as well as he did either. This movie was a lot better than I expected.

I wasn't expecting a Jackass movie but I also wasn't expecting Johnny Knoxville to act as well as he did either. This movie was a lot better than I expected.

I wasn't expecting a Jackass movie but I also wasn't expecting Johnny Knoxville to act as well as he did either. This movie was a lot better than I expected.

I wasn't expecting a Jackass movie but I also wasn't expecting Johnny Knoxville to act as well as he did either. This movie was a lot better than I expected.

In modest but effective LA addiction drama "Sweet Dreams" big-time music-video director Johnny Knoxville (great - playing it straight) hits rock-bottom with his alcoholism, so checks into Mohammed Amer's titular low-brow rehab house where aided by fellow addicts (including Jay Mohr (good), Theo Von, Kate Upton, Bobby Lee, Brian Van Holt & Gata) & the focus of an admittedly implausible softball tournament, he changes the direction of his life. In his third film as director (and the second that he also wrote) Lije Sarki gets his point across with a refreshing edge of authenticity while avoiding the usual cheesie genre clichés. This is a solid yet understated film.

Yes I did go into this blind! I thought it would be in a similar vein to other Knoxville movies but it was a very sombre drama. But there was no spark, where was the soundtrack? Music would have made this movie much better and a few good jokes! Why wasn't there any jokes? Theo and Bobby Lee and no jokes? Doesn't make sense I know it's a depressing story but come on it needed some spark! Was a hard watch for me but I didn't turn it off at least!

Man, this flick is getting too low ratings. It's a really warm and believable hour and a half with mostly good acting. Never too much and never boring. I'd actually like it to be a bit longer, that's how much I enjoyed it!

Knoxville does an excellent job and you can really feel the pains he's going through every time he tears up about how he's mistreated his 8 year old daughter. Other fun characters are played by Theo von and Bobby Lee, although Lee is probably the weakest link in the movie, yet he still manages to be quite entertaining. Honorable mentions are Mohammed Amer and Jay Mohr who deliver really solid characters. A feel good movie!

Where to start?

Let's start with Bobby Lee floating round this film looking like a marshmallow that got lucky on the lip of a rejection bin. Meaning he looks like a marshmallow that has been rolling around the factory floor in dust, pubes & dirt for 50 years.

His acting is laughably bad; which is a blessing. And when he isn't trying to act he's just being Bobby Lee. Theo Von shows promise.

The film itself, is too, and and and, instead of, so but so. This means it fails to really engage. It's just too choppy. At the very least throw in a few fade shots. Make the transition smooth.

But the film is not terrible. It watches like a practice run. With a bit more skill the film could have been very good.