This gruesome comedy-thriller is mostly an updated, modernized version of Hitchcock’s “Man From the South” but has double the protagonists and antagonists. I think it also throws in our contemporary obsession with photographing every damned thing every damned few minutes. I was also drawn to it because of David Koechner being in the lead, his comedy style has grown on me plus he’s very sinister for a change.
The trailer wasn’t widely available so I’ll give a quick synopsis. Craig is a struggling writer who just lost his job at an oil-change joint. It couldn’t have come at a worse time. His wife is unemployed, they have an infant son and they’re going to be evicted in a week. While trying to take his mind off his troubles at a nearby bar, Craig’s old high-school buddy Vince runs into him. Based upon their catching-up conversation, sounds like life has been rough for Vince and he operates a free agent thug breaking arms for loan sharks.
When Craig returns from using the bathroom, Vince introduces Colin and Violet. The couple came into the bar to celebrate Violet’s birthday and they’re looking people to party with. As they consume an expensive bottle of tequila, Colin starts pitting Craig and Vince against each other through various little challenges for money: who finishes a shot gets $50, make a nearby woman slap your face for a $100, etc. The stunts work their way up in risk alongside their rewards.
Is it funny though? For me, most of the time. I liked the surprises and a couple vulgar stunts, think Dumb and Dumber. Cheap will upset the squeamish but I felt it didn’t do these things to get attention. The point in my opinion was to show what desperate people will do when ludicrous amounts of money are at stake.
Alamo Extras: Shorts involving dares, a Betty Boop cartoon, Dave Koechner skits of him buying flowers, Dave Koechner’s talk show, a puppet interviewing the stars of the movie, Dave Koechner and Will Arnett doing a skit, Weird Al’s video “Dare to be Stupid,” and pieces from Tarantino’s bit from Four Rooms.