Pictures Gallery For Stark Raving Mad

Stark Raving Mad (2002)

Overall Score: 4 out of 10

It's all about being in the wrong place at the right time

Starring: Seann William Scott, Timm Sharp, Patrick Breen, John B. Crye, Suzy Nakamura, Lou Diamond Phillips, Dave Foley, Kavan Smith, Paul Hungerford, Monet Mazur, Jody Racicot, Terry Chen, Yee Jee Tso, Ty Olsson, Carl McDonald

Director: Drew Daywalt & David Schneider

Running Time: 97 minutes

US MPAA rating: N/A
UK BBFC rating: 15
Comedy, Crime

On DVD On DVD

Seann William Scott dons a distractingly large amount of facial fuzz to star alongside a cast of little-knowns in this latest attempt at latching onto the success of Pulp Fiction and Lock, Stock, etc. It might be a little harsh to suggest the beard is a last-gasp attempt by the triple-named one to hide his embarrassment at accepting a role in such a lacklustre production - but I can't be the only viewer to have had the thought cross my mind. It's a semi-serious role for the angular-jawed 'American Pie' and 'Dude, Where's My Car?' doofus. He plays Ben, the wild-eyed nightclub promoter roped into robbing a bank by silly-haired Chinatown mob-lord Gregory (Lou Diamond Phillips). So, along with accomplices Rikki (Timm "poor man's Sam Rockwell" Sharp), Jeffrey (Patrick Breen), Betty (Suzy Nakamura) and Jake (John V. Crye), he sets about breaking into the bank vault whilst simultaneously fighting off the attentions of various dance-floor hussies and under-cover Feds. The plot is reasonable enough if never in any danger of becoming even slightly original, and the unfolding of the climax is just about interesting enough to hold the attention. But directorial duo Drew Daywalt and David Schneider seem obsessed with throwing in various camera tricks and self-indulgent stylistics wherever possible, and though some of it is impressively done, it adds little to the film as a whole. Similarly off-putting are Ben's intermittent asides to the camera, which tell us nothing we can't suss out for ourselves and largely just seem to be excuses for SWS to spout nonsense directly to the viewer. The movie does contain a couple of funny moments, but allowing this into the comedy genre is a bit of a squeeze. You're much more likely to find it filed in your video store's "instantly forgettable" category.

DVD Extras: Nada. Extras: 0 out of 10

It's Got: A safe-cracker who lives his life by the rule of the mood-fish - so clearly he hasn't worked out yet that they only flip over cos you've got sweaty paws.

It Needs: For the directors to stop trying to show-off and concentrate on making a better film.

Alternatives: Human Traffic, South West 9, Ocean's Eleven, Bulletproof Monk

Summary: You've seen it all before. Strictly for Seann William Scott fans, otherwise give it a miss. Overall Score: 4 out of 10

Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 12th July 2003


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External Links

Stark Raving Mad at the IMDB

Comments

3 Comments

Newmarket films and Columbia tristar missed a big cash-in by hiding this film in the straight to video. My friends and I rented it last week because of all the good reviews on netflix and we were not disappointed. It had the energy of a pumping nightclub and the weirdest, coolest sense of style and humor. It was as if Stanley Kubrik were allowed to direct Mission Impossible.

We loved this movie. My girlfriend said she is going to buy it. And she usually hates Seann William Scott.

good job to the film makers and to the actors for such a smart, oddball film.
Comment by:- Ben Calvert | | 26 October 2004 | ip: logged

Gary Panton also gave bad reviews to TAXI DRIVER, FIGHT CLUB, and PULP FICTION. He gave favorable rreviews to the crappy new star wars films. Nuff said about this guy.
Comment by:- Leslie Myers | | 26 October 2004 | ip: logged

Actually, I gave both Fight Club and Pulp Fiction 9 out of 10, and I've never even reviewed Taxi Driver! I've also only reviewed one of the new Star Wars films (Attack of the Clones) and I called it "the poorest of the Star Wars flicks so far". Feel free to check any of this using the search facility on the site.

In conclusion, Leslie Myers is talking nonsense.
Comment by:- Gary Panton | www.movie-gazette.com... | 27 October 2004 | ip: logged

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