THE PLOT THUS FAR
Father William Smoortser drops his bible into a toilet at a rest stop just before embarking on a day-long canoe trip, breaking loose all glorious hell.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
After his relationship to the church sours, a young priest and his high-school pal take a canoe trip, where they recall their glory days in rock bands. But they realize they’re lost as darkness falls — and the night brings a bizarre turn of events. What makes me so happy about the canoe trip in question is the utter lack of logic. Too often, you’ll find film snobs trying to give Miranda July and her ilk a pass for this schtick. However, director Rohal tries his best to make a blend of the natural landscape aesthetic and Eastern cinema blend into a sampled piece of work.
Steve Little first wowed me in “Eastbound and Down”, but now he’s my new cult favorite comedian. The film ends so graphically, that it almost blows my mind trying to remember the transition to that moment. Robbie Shoemaker and Father William make for a realistic duo of losers that don’t understand their station in life or even the purpose of it. These men exist just to fill a void that was created by their sheer lack of being. It’s hard to explain without giving too much away, but the mood shifts are worth the price of admission.
The DVD comes with a commentary, short film, outtakes and trailers. The A/V Quality is pretty solid for an indie comedy with an actual reference quality Dolby 5.1 track. What blows me away is how the flick plays like a Southern take on a Postmodern Ozu film. It’s pretty impressive and it makes for an interesting double feature with “Still Walking”. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: 02/28/2012
