Perhaps the only weakness upon first viewing of the film Dill Scallion is that fact that you don't yet realize that every single line of this movie is a punchline. It's a joke from beginning to end. In fact, it was only after seeing the movie a handful of times that we found ourselves laughing at not only the more obvious jokes, but also reeling at the layers and layers of jokes hidden deeper in the text.
On the surface, Dill Scallion's sense of humor is too easy. It makes fun of country music and pokes fun at life in the South in general. But actual examination of the dialog shows much more thought than you'd expect. Take Dill's song "Tube Top Boogie," Please! At first it's just pretty funny that someone is writing a song about tube tops. But examine the first couplet:
Now don't get all dolled up, cuz we're going out on the town,
Ain't no need to wear no formal wedding gown,
If you think about it for half a sec, you're forced to ask "Just what IS a formal wedding gown?" Are there casual ones? And why would she be contemplating wearing one out on the town anyway? The joke is three layers deep, easily missed, and indicative of Dill's inability to grasp the English language as whole, much less write an intelligent song using it.
For anyone who has ever played in a band- country or not- this movie is a must see. It perfectly portrays something that is far more rampant and ubiquitous than TALENT in the world of up-and-coming bands: Deluded Musicians.
Dill Scallion is a silly, thoughtful, intelligent, and well written movie whose humor is far too easily overlooked by those wanting to relegate it to just another Spinal Tap wannabe. Watch it, then watch it again. You don't get it until you can sing along.
