Best Men

I really like this movie. The actors fit the characters perfectly and the plot was unique. It would have been even more great to find out more about the characters but other than that i really enjoyed it. What was really fantastic is how all the friends were so different from each other but the fit so well. I can understand that this movie wasn't really deep, but life isn't always like that. The movie certainly took some surprising turns, well at least in the characters they were bringing into the plot. the overall feeling of the movie was really sentimental, dealing in the fact that these guys lives had been rough but they were still willing to go on, and the end really interesting if a little sad. But it just goes to show that some people don't go down without a fight.

There is a bank robber known as Hamlet working the area who quotes Shakespeare during his robberies. Four friends Buzz (Dean Cain), Teddy (Andy Dick), Billy (Sean Patrick Flanery), and Sol (Mitchell Whitfield) have come to pick up Jesse (Luke Wilson) from prison released after around 3 years. They are all dressed in tuxedos going to Jesse's wedding with Hope (Drew Barrymore). Billy is dropped off at the bank who turns out to be the masked bandit Hamlet. Then the rest of the guys go into the bank. They are surprised by Billy's bank robbery, and join in. Sheriff Phillips (Fred Ward) surrounds the group, and turns out to be Billy's dad.

This is a poor copy of 'Dog Day Afternoon'. Billy is way too pathetic. The FBI is way too ridiculous. The other people in the group makes no sense. It's trying to be a quirky action comedy. Except that it's more stupid than funny. And it's a horrible idea to have Andy Dick who is hamming it up for the camera. I think the filmmakers are attempting at a Tarantino-like DDA movie but they don't have the skills to pull it off. It comes off as a weak homage to the great movie.

When I rented this movie, I was thinking that it would be a comedy. Instead, this movie turned out to be more of a drama. I was very surprised with this movie and even a little curious as to why I had never heard of it before seeing it at the video store. Perhaps it is because it isn't a comedy like most people would expect. I really liked this movie. It isn't a vehicle for Drew Barrymore, if that is what you are expecting, but her part is one that she does well in. Dean Cain also turns in a worthy performance. I think most will be surprised at how touching and even moving this movie is if they give it a chance.

This movie starts out with some real promise. It begins as a comedic naive-criminal type movie. A theme rendered masterfully in the film Bottle Rocket. With a cast that includes Andy Dick you start to expect even an element of superb slap stick and goofy-ness. If only this movie could have reached half of the understated brilliance of Bottle Rocket, it would have succeeded. Unfortunately, it fails spectacularly. Half way through the film they decide to ditch the comedic theme and dive head first into an action film. Complete with over the top chase scenes and graphic violence that leaves the viewer wondering if someone taped over the second half of the film with an episode of the A-team. And don't get me wrong I love blood and guts action a la John Woo, but in this film it is completely out of place. This film tries to combine the sincere comedy of Bottle Rocket with the over the top action of Hard Boiled and manages to fail at both in the process. It is a shame too because if they had stuck to one or the other they might have ended up with a decent film.

My friend bought this movie out of the $5 bin at Walmart for a laugh. I was just expecting a stupid, mindless romantic comedy. What I found was a brilliant piece of work. The script is quite impressive. The story actually focuses on the "Best Men" like it says, not on the bride and groom. The whole film is chock full of lovable (and not so lovable) vibrant characters from nerdy little Teddy to Billy, the classical romantic hero, to Buzz the top-notch soldier with a heart of gold to Sol the lawyer you don't want to trust. Why had I never heard of this movie before?!? This definitely deserves a place on the shelf for anyone who loves comedy and good writing.