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I think the barometer for people enjoying this film would be how much they can handle a person like Jason Mantzoukas. His voice and aggressive comedy style might turn people off the content. It's like how some people can't stand Charlie Day simply because of his voice and comedy style. For me, I love Mantzoukas and think he does an admirable job here with a role that could have gone either way.
The Long Dumb Road is indeed a road trip movie. Our main characters meet after Tony Revolori has car trouble. Mantzoukas just happens to be a mechanic and offers to help fix it for free if the kid will give him a ride. He agrees and thus the adventure begins. The two characters couldn't be further away from each other. Revolori plays a kid going to art school to find his craft and hopefully see what "Real America". He's lived a sheltered life and going out on his on is a big step in the right direction for independence. Mantzoukas on the other hand is living life to the fullest, in both good and bad terms. He's the grab life by the balls type guy who might have a drinking problem. I wonder if the wild one is going to get the sheltered one to come out of his shell. I also wonder if he might go one step too far and then get lectured by the sheltered one on how much of a juvenile he is. These are just guesses, but they fall perfectly in line with the type of movie this wants to be....and ultimately becomes.
That's not to say this film is bad, it's pretty good. I connected with the two guys on the road, their misadventures and in the end I wanted both of them to be happy. Some events that happen are out of left field and I feel like Mantzoukas' character is written in such a way that it steers the story into those wild moments, which makes it feel not as natural as it could be.
This film eyes its focus on characters instead of dumb comedy. There are funny moments and it's mostly in the charisma of the two leads, but don't expect a Due Date rip-off.
The Long Dumb Road
I think the barometer for people enjoying this film would be how much they can handle a person like Jason Mantzoukas. His voice and aggressive comedy style might turn people off the content. It's like how some people can't stand Charlie Day simply because of his voice and comedy style. For me, I love Mantzoukas and think he does an admirable job here with a role that could have gone either way.
The Long Dumb Road is indeed a road trip movie. Our main characters meet after Tony Revolori has car trouble. Mantzoukas just happens to be a mechanic and offers to help fix it for free if the kid will give him a ride. He agrees and thus the adventure begins. The two characters couldn't be further away from each other. Revolori plays a kid going to art school to find his craft and hopefully see what "Real America". He's lived a sheltered life and going out on his on is a big step in the right direction for independence. Mantzoukas on the other hand is living life to the fullest, in both good and bad terms. He's the grab life by the balls type guy who might have a drinking problem. I wonder if the wild one is going to get the sheltered one to come out of his shell. I also wonder if he might go one step too far and then get lectured by the sheltered one on how much of a juvenile he is. These are just guesses, but they fall perfectly in line with the type of movie this wants to be....and ultimately becomes.
That's not to say this film is bad, it's pretty good. I connected with the two guys on the road, their misadventures and in the end I wanted both of them to be happy. Some events that happen are out of left field and I feel like Mantzoukas' character is written in such a way that it steers the story into those wild moments, which makes it feel not as natural as it could be.
This film eyes its focus on characters instead of dumb comedy. There are funny moments and it's mostly in the charisma of the two leads, but don't expect a Due Date rip-off.