God Bless America (2011): You Must See this Movie

All posts in this blog are intended to highlight movies (either really good or really bad) that run the risk of being overlooked by the public. Great movies that are well known to the general public need not apply.

The following movie is in the Good category:

Frank (Joel Murray) is a middle aged man who has a series of misfortunes. Increasingly frustrated by people being mean on reality TV, he gets drunk and decides to kill one of them before committing suicide. However, the teenaged Roxy (Tara Lynne Barr), also feeling disenfranchised, encourages him instead to go on a crusade with the two of them killing those who deserve it.

One thing that some people see as a flaw in the movie I see as a strength: the characters don’t have a fully figured plan at first, and try to figure out the rules as they go along. So, for example, whom they deem deserving of killing changes according to circumstances; they’re not simply targeting reality stars, for example. This also allows the movie to satirize a range of inappropriate behaviour. The two leads also have great chemistry, and in fact they establish a father-daughter relationship that seems stronger than their relationships with their real families. In each other, the two of them find humanity that they can’t find in the world at large.

I do have some minor quibbles: there is a cliché in the movie that I can’t reveal without spoiling a plot point, only to say it probably wasn’t needed. And one speech goes on a bit long. But those are small details. There is some razor sharp satire on modern society here, Murray is very convincing as the lead, and Barr has the potential to become a major star someday. It’s also worth mentioning that the movie was written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, who probably known to most people who watch 1980s comedies as the guy with the shrill voice (e.g. as Zed in the Police Academy movies). Back in the 1980s he seemed to use his funny voice as a bit of a crutch. Here he is strictly behind the camera and this work shows a high level of confidence and intelligence. Plus the reality show parodies are great, particularly the American Idol stand-in which keeps on landing in Frank’s orbit. You must see this movie.