Off the Chain

I caught this sharp, clever romantic comedy at the 2004 Palm Beach International Film Festival where three additional showings were added after the film's premiere sold out. I can see why. Based on a true story, this is the tale of a frustrating young housewife (sympathetically played by Tomey Sellars) who toys with the idea of offing her habitually lazy and sloppy husband (hilariously played by Justin Kane). However, before she can call off the contract, she discovers that her "hitman" is an undercover cop and she's busted. Sooner than you can say "media feeding frenzy," the case becomes tabloid fodder, the imprisoned wife becomes a feminist heroine, and her hubby learns a thing or two about growing up in the glare of public scrutiny. All in all, this is a very funny, touching and insightful film that won an Audience Favorite Award at the Festival and deservedly so. It has all the earmarks of a sleep indie hit.

Imagine a film that did nothing but ridicule women, including jokes about committing violence and sexual mutilation against them.

If that would make you angry, you should hold the same indignation towards OFF THE CHAIN, which commits the same transgression towards men.

There is a place for playful teasing between the sexes, but none for treating people as less than human, or "jokes" about sexual violence. I can't think of any other ethnic, religious, or gender group about which such antipathy would be tolerated. If it's unthinkable to joke about destroying a woman's sexual organs, and it is, then it's equally wrong to joke about doing the same to those of men.

I was an extra in this film, and the film was fun to make, so I am sure that everyone will enjoy it when it comes out for all to view! Enjoy it! The film is dark and funny! If you like dark comedies, then you will truly enjoy this film. Also, to find me in the film look for the scene were they are playing pool, then look for the guy with the black dress shirt & tie!

I want to also include that the film has some great up & coming actors in it, so look for them to provide you with future years of talent. Let's face it not even Tom Cruise made it as an all star when he first started. Also I wanted to thank the staff of Spanky's for providing some of the best nachos in the filming of this movie!

"Off The Chain," is a dark comedy about a working wife and mother pushed to the edge by her husband Joe's utter shiftlessness and irresponsibility. In every sense, Joe is like her third child. He forgets to pay important bills, he doesn't help Susanna enough with the kids. He basically is just a warm body. He's not a life partner. He leaves his wife to carry not only the familial duties; she also has to take care of the house and the finances. When his financial recklessness wipes out there savings she is pushed to the edge and contracts a hired killer. Susanna doesn't want her husband dead. She regrets her decision and upon a meeting to finalize the details of her husbands hit she plans to call the whole thing off but instead she is arrested.

A lazy husband is no justification for murder. This is true, but it is a comedy, a dark comedy, but a comedy. The people who are overly critical of this film are taking it far too seriously. There are some jokes about men that men may find offensive. My own husband cringed at several of the jokes, but they are just that, jokes characters in the film make. The jokes may seem extreme and some of the characters in the film such as Big Tammy may seem a little over the top. Big Tammy, with her disdain for the male species is the opposite of the main character in many ways. Susanna doesn't think all men are evil or that Joe is that bad, all she really wanted was a life partner who contributed more around the house.

"Off The Chain" is a well written film that women will relate to more than men in most situations. However, I will say after watching this film with my husband he was a bit more sympathetic to my many responsibilities as wife and mother and offered to help out more around the house.