In 2003, just before his shift ended at Mama Mia’s Pizza-Ria in Erie, Pennsylvania, a pizza delivery man named Brian Wells agreed to go on one last delivery of the day. It would be the last of his life. His day ended with a bomb, while strapped to his neck, detonating, killing him. It seems like a sequence from a “Saw” movie however this real life story eerily mirrors the events in the new comedy, “30 Minutes or Less” from “Zombieland” director Ruben Fleischer. The script by first timer Michael Diliberti could actually have skewed toward an action or horror picture, and Fleischer and the execs at Columbia Pictures just thought it might be funny to cast comedians in the lead roles. Who knows? Maybe there are some seriously disturbed people over at Columbia. Though they may have made a good decision because despite the grizzly similarity to the bizarre real life events the movie is actually pretty funny.
Like Mr. Wells, Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) is a pizza delivery man who gets in over his head when he is lured into the clutches of two low rent idiots/masterminds, Dwayne and Travis (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson respectively). Strapping a homemade bomb to Nick’s chest Dwayne and Travis want him to rob a bank for one hundred thousand dollars within ten hours or he won’t be slinging pizzas anymore. Terrified Nick enlists the help of his best friend Chet (Aziz Ansari) to pull of the heist.
Most of the humor in the picture is provided by the leads who all pack enough energy into their delivery and timing to propel the thin plot the scant eighty-three minute run time. One of the best stand-up comedians around, Ansari pulls of his attempt to transition to supporting lead territory, not so much in the dramatic bits, but his comedic presence more than makes up for the fact that most of his lines are yelled at top volume. Equally as funny is McBride who channels his triumphant Kenny Powers character from “Eastbound and Down” throughout the film. At this point it seems like that the brash, over-confident prick may be McBride’s only weapon, but even so it is a weapon of mass hilarious destruction. Faring evenly in the midst of the standouts Swardson and Eisenberg hold their own, but neither can step out of the shadow of their on-screen counterparts.
Though it doesn’t matter. The film is over before you know it, a fun diversion that strives for nothing more. For sure the script had more plot strewn around, but the film makers seemed to have cut and cut until there was nothing left to complain about. There are very few bits that don’t serve to push the film forward onto the next joke, and even though the next joke is inevitably someone yelling an outlandishly rude comment at another character they seem to elicit laughs nonetheless.
Unfortunately there are few classic or memorable scenes. Most of the funny dialogue seems to have sprung from the minds of the actors, a testament to their talents, but by the end little sticks in the recesses of my brain as something that will stand the test of time. Late nights in the future when the film finds its way to the small screen, pay cable or basic, it will be a go-to way to finish out a night of getting stoned or drinking, but earlier in those nights groups of dudes won’t be quoting the lines back and forth like those of the “Ghostbusters,” “Old School,” or even “The Hangover.”
But not every movie has to be a “Classic.” Some are just serviceable comedies that get laughs. In fact that is a feat in and of itself. It is pretty impressive that given the real life antecedent of the script (which the studio vigorously denies any connection to) the film manages to mine any laughs, let alone the amount is receives. It may be easier to watch the film if you don’t know, or can divorce one’s self from the story of Mr. Wells, if you don’t think about the families of those effected by the events that actually transpired. Is it ethical to take the horrible catastrophes of a victim, and twist it into the mirthful guffaws of popcorn grazing consumers? The answer to that question will have to wait until Monday’s box office numbers come rolling in.
Rated R
Dir: Ruben Fleischer
Written by: Michael Diliberti
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride, Nick Swardson
Like Mr. Wells, Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) is a pizza delivery man who gets in over his head when he is lured into the clutches of two low rent idiots/masterminds, Dwayne and Travis (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson respectively). Strapping a homemade bomb to Nick’s chest Dwayne and Travis want him to rob a bank for one hundred thousand dollars within ten hours or he won’t be slinging pizzas anymore. Terrified Nick enlists the help of his best friend Chet (Aziz Ansari) to pull of the heist.
Most of the humor in the picture is provided by the leads who all pack enough energy into their delivery and timing to propel the thin plot the scant eighty-three minute run time. One of the best stand-up comedians around, Ansari pulls of his attempt to transition to supporting lead territory, not so much in the dramatic bits, but his comedic presence more than makes up for the fact that most of his lines are yelled at top volume. Equally as funny is McBride who channels his triumphant Kenny Powers character from “Eastbound and Down” throughout the film. At this point it seems like that the brash, over-confident prick may be McBride’s only weapon, but even so it is a weapon of mass hilarious destruction. Faring evenly in the midst of the standouts Swardson and Eisenberg hold their own, but neither can step out of the shadow of their on-screen counterparts.
Though it doesn’t matter. The film is over before you know it, a fun diversion that strives for nothing more. For sure the script had more plot strewn around, but the film makers seemed to have cut and cut until there was nothing left to complain about. There are very few bits that don’t serve to push the film forward onto the next joke, and even though the next joke is inevitably someone yelling an outlandishly rude comment at another character they seem to elicit laughs nonetheless.
Unfortunately there are few classic or memorable scenes. Most of the funny dialogue seems to have sprung from the minds of the actors, a testament to their talents, but by the end little sticks in the recesses of my brain as something that will stand the test of time. Late nights in the future when the film finds its way to the small screen, pay cable or basic, it will be a go-to way to finish out a night of getting stoned or drinking, but earlier in those nights groups of dudes won’t be quoting the lines back and forth like those of the “Ghostbusters,” “Old School,” or even “The Hangover.”
But not every movie has to be a “Classic.” Some are just serviceable comedies that get laughs. In fact that is a feat in and of itself. It is pretty impressive that given the real life antecedent of the script (which the studio vigorously denies any connection to) the film manages to mine any laughs, let alone the amount is receives. It may be easier to watch the film if you don’t know, or can divorce one’s self from the story of Mr. Wells, if you don’t think about the families of those effected by the events that actually transpired. Is it ethical to take the horrible catastrophes of a victim, and twist it into the mirthful guffaws of popcorn grazing consumers? The answer to that question will have to wait until Monday’s box office numbers come rolling in.
Rated R
Dir: Ruben Fleischer
Written by: Michael Diliberti
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride, Nick Swardson
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