In Odd Jobs, 1980s stand-up comedians Paul Reiser, Robert Townsend, Rick Overton, and Paul Provenza are cast as average-Joe college men who start a small moving company to make some summer money, then run afoul of the Mob, while falling in and out of various sticky situations.
Highly entertaining, the scripted action combines sight gags, pokes at class, ethnic and racial stereotypes, and wacky mid-80's sexual set-ups.
A major reason to discover the film is provided by Leo Burmester, who steals all available scenes as Wylie, the pomaded long-haul trucker with a heart of gold.
Reiser, who would find lasting acclaim as a neurotic romantic lead in the television series Mad About You, is on form here as the nervous leader of the goofy pack. Off of the club stage, he can simply out- act most of the other stand-ups of his cohort.
Cameos and memorable short roles abound. The film efficiently extracts enjoyable performances from the likes of infomercial legend Jake "Body by Jake" Steinfeld, and a pre-MacGyver Richard Dean Anderson.
Overlooked when it released, and now all but forgotten, Odd Jobs is a funny movie that earns its laughs like its errant protagonists move their boxes; honestly, with earnest effort.
