Simply Indie: Pizza Shop: The Movie

HOMAGE

 Pizza Shop: The Movie - Homage

Unlike most films, I've always believed that comedy is the hardest genre to make work for an audience. Comedy is extremely subjective and what one person might find funny another person will not find funny at all, kind of how I feel about "Workaholics," I love it but my wife will merely tolerate it. That's why I commend anyone who, first if all, creates something, and I'll give them double commendation when they create a comedy. "Pizza Shop: The Movie" is a nice homage to comedy of the 80s and even some more modern comedy with it's tongue planted firmly in its cheek.

"Pizza," directed by George O'Barts, is centered around a pizza shop and it's colorful staff. Told through what seems to be a series of montages including training the shop's new delivery boy, going the extra mile for that tip, creating new and exciting tomato sauce recipes, and pulling off the perfect prank on a co-worker. The main story revolves around Pete, the shop's pride and joy, and his co-worker Jason, who wants to see nothing more than Pete fall from grace. As things heat up and Pete is finally sent over the edge, a battle of wills between Pete and Jason threaten to tear Pizza Shop apart and could land them all behind bars.

I'll put this out there right away, if you're easily offended or gross-out comedy really isn't your slice of pizza, you might be a little shocked. O'Barts pushes the limits in some scenes and it's fun to see someone taking a risk in their comedy. "Pizza" reminds me a lot of "....Waiting," a touch of "Poultygiest" with it's wacky cast of characters and even a little bit of "Clerks." I love all three of those films and to see some influences from those films makes me appreciate "Pizza" even more.

You can see the comparison to "Clerks" in the way that film cuts from scene to scene, jumping from story to story. While there is a complete narrative, O'Bart is still able to break the film up into different sections that each tell a different story about an individual character, or group of characters.

All in all, "Pizza" is indeed the raunchy off-color comedy it claims to be, and it does it quite well. The production design is strong, the camera work is actually quite good for a small budget indie, and the story is fun and reminiscent of gross-out comedies of the past. They say "imitation is he best form of flattery" and "Pizza" is able to pull enough from the past while still being it's own film.

You can find more information about "Pizza Shop: The Movie" right HERE. I'd like to thank George O'Bart with furnishing me with a copy of his film to review.

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Freddy Got Fingered

Freddy Got Fingered – Surreal

In the magical land of Canada there is a man who sucks cows' nipples, torments complete strangers, and treats his friends like winners.  That man is Tom Green.  Back in the late 90s, MTV took a liking to this strange young man and gave him his own weekly show and soon enough old Greeny went Hollywood and birthed from his loins came “Freddy Got Fingered.”

A lot has been said about “Fingered” over the years; how awful, vile, deplorable, sick, the accolades can go on and on, but I have to say, without Tom Green and this oft-kilter comedy (I say it’s more performance art then actual comedy) you wouldn’t have your “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job” or “Workaholics” comedies that really pushes the limits of taste, and what we can take.

Aside from skateboarding and other post-adolescent hijinks, this comic gem includes deer carcass wearing, horse penis wiggling, compound leg fracture licking, a sadomasochist wheelchair bound rocket scientist, and of course my favorite, baby umbilical cord swinging.  If that isn't performance art, I really don't know what you'd call it.

Outside of all the wacky antics, there is one performance that really stands out, and that is Rip Torn's.  With all the fucked up stuff going on in "Fingered" you forget its really the story of a son just trying to gain his father's trust by spraying him with elephant cum.

Heartwarming, and definitely fun for the entire family, "finger" it out and go check out "Freddy Got Fingered" you won't regret what you'll see.

Fun Fact:  The scene where Freddy is watching TV in his house are actual scenes from Tom Green's surgery for Testicular Cancer

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