Let's Go to Prison

... but WHY do I feel guilty? Maybe it is because such terrible things go on behind bars - rape, gangs that dish out death based on race, bad food, corrupt guards, etc. and all of that is treated comically in this film. BUT, really nothing that you would expect given the set up of the film actually happens to the degree that it could, and in the end it turns out to have some very clever twists. It is just not all stupidity and it is very non-violent considering what could happen.

The setup is that a career non-violent criminal, John Lyshitski (Dax Shepard) is constantly getting caught and sent to prison by Judge Nelson Biedermann. But Lyshitski blames all of his incarcerations on the judge, not on his own bad choices, and he spends so much time in prison he knows everybody by name. So John decides to carry out a plan of revenge on the judge, except the judge dies right before he gets out of jail. So John changes his plan to avenge himself on the dead judge's son, Nelson Biedermann IV, by tampering with his inhaler and making him temporarily high. In this state Ned trashes a store and attacks the store owners, all caught on the store security camera. Did I mention that Ned IV is an insufferable preppy jerk? So Ned demands that the Biedermann foundation help get him out, BUT the foundation decides they would like to be rid of this stupid jerk and defend him themselves and throw the case. Ned goes to prison for 3-5 years.

Meanwhile, John is not feeling the glee he thought he would at Ned going to prison. After all, he figures, he won't be there to see Ned get what is certainly going to be coming to a soft preppy rich kid with no street smarts. So this time, John gets caught on purpose, gets sent to prison for 3-5 just like Ned, and manages his prison connections so he is Ned's cellmate. At first things go like you think they would, but then a twist of fate for both Ned and John change things in a way that was inconceivable to John when he started this whole thing. From there you will have to watch yourself and find out what happens. If you have a distaste for violence, don't worry, this is not Shawshank Redemption on any possible level.

Oh, and kudos to Chi McBride who becomes the unlikely means for Ned to give the foundation that dumped him their comeuppance. This film is probably a 6.5 as a comedy, but I rounded it up to 7 for originality, especially during the last half.

There are movies that follow a relatively obvious plot. There are movies where you expect every plot twist ten minutes in advance. This certainly is one of those movies. But then, why would you go see a comedy looking for gripping plot lines? This is one of those movies that would have bombed, in the wrong hands. Given an average director and a mediocre cast, this movie would have been barely watchable. But under the care of Bob Odenkirk and a trio of skilled actors, it turns out as one of the funnier movies of the year.

Let me be clear about one thing: this movie is all about subtle, dry humor. The situations are, on their own, intentionally not funny. Played a different way, many of them would be downright terrifying. But the way the actors carry themselves through it, their timing, their facial expressions, bring out the absurdity of the serious script.

If you go into the movie expecting it to hit you in the face with everything it's got, you may be disappointed. But if you go prepared to pay attention and catch the nuances as well as the broad strokes, you'll barely stop laughing.

John Lyshitski (Dax Shepard) is a young guy who's spent most of his life in prison, blaming the judge who continuously sent him them, he hatches his plan for revenge. But he dies three days before he gets free of prison, so John decides to go after the judge's son, Nelson (Will Arnet of brilliant "Arrested Development" fame) John's plan is to frame Nelson, get him sent to jail, and then get himself sent to the same jail to bunk with him, which he accomplishes. But things don't always go as planned afterwords though.

Personally I found this film hilarious and don't really know why there's all this hatred towards it. Will Arnet is pretty funny and Dax Shepard plays off him quite well. But the REAL star of the film is Chi McBride as Barry, an eloquent rapist. Whenever he's on the screen it had me in stitches. The film's not as good as Mr. Show was (but hell what can be?) But director Bob Odenkirk still has a winner here.

My Grade: B+

It's rare I comment on a Film because most films in my view are average - but this film is very funny and very well played and believable - I didn't see it coming - but maybe I was just being too entertained by it all - I particularly enjoyed the visual comedy of this film facial expressions were so perfect I almost wet myself on several occasions from start to finish this film entertained and made me laugh - even the closing titles where the three main characters were in the people carrier being entertained by the CD Player !! hehehe - just thinking about it makes me almost cry laughing again - so don't be put off by the poor rating so far - don't worry that there aren't such well known actors - do enjoy this well constructed, very funny film

I found this movie to be quite funny with an original story line. The story is about a habitual criminal who repeatedly comes before the same judge to be sentenced. He devises a method of revenge upon this judge whereupon his release from prison, he frames the judge's son on a crime which sends the judge's son to prison. The habitual criminal then commits a crime to be his cell mate and there the fun begins.

This is obviously a dark-humored comedy and it had me laughing more than I had anticipated. It was given only a 5 star by IMDb users so I did not expect much but it was quite good. I am surprised it did not get that much notoriety in the theaters. In fact, I never heard of this film at all. It's amazing that crappy comedy movies like Wild Hogs and I Think I Love My Wife get all the attention while really funny movie like this get passed by. But what can you do since there really is no star power in this movie. You will recognize actors and actresses since many of them have appeared in many films as supporting characters. It's just that they don't have the name recognition.

The only weakness I found in this movies was the crime by with which the judge's son was framed. The writers should have thought of a more plausible reason for his incarceration. However, after some thought, I figure this is comedy and the whole movie is a stretch of the imagination so I am overlooking this weakness.

I am not saying, however, that this is a great comedy but it was good and it had me laughing pretty much throughout the movie and in my opinion, that warrants a 7. If you like Van Wilder, Sorority Boys, and Harold and Kumar Goes to White Castle type of movies, then you will like this as well.