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Bobcat picked up the idea of a clown bar from his days doing improv
and comedy clubs. After the shows, all the comics would wander into a
nearby bar. You'd think a bar full of funnymen would be a great time,
right? Not at all. It was just guys whining about how the less funny
guys were getting chosen for movies and TV shows, and trying to
improve their place in the comedy pecking order. Bobcat
reasoned that the whole system of comedy social interaction must apply to
clowns as well. I suppose he's right. Probably somewhere like
Sarasota, just outside the Ringling facilities, there is a bar where
clowns drown their sorrows. (Although I'm guessing they take off their
make-up first, and maybe slip into normal shoes.). In this movie, the surrogate Sarasota is Palukaville, USA,
lard capital of the country.
Bobcat maintains the unique world throughout he film. I find the
whole concept bizarrely funny and creative. The
execution isn't as good as the premise, but I still got a kick out of
it. Of course, humor is a personal
thing, so an oddball film like this won't be a mainstream rib-tickler,
but it sure got me laughing in spots.
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 |
 |
| Our hero is the toast of the town
... |
... named Palukaville, |
 |
 |
| where he begins his story the
morning after, with a clown-bar floozy |
that he picked up here the
previous night. |
 |
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| Framed for murder by some rodeo
clowns, he fails to enter their sanctum, |
and is forced to hide from the
police, disguised as a mime. |
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The
Critics Vote
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The People
Vote ...
- With their dollars ... a
legendary failure, but an inexpensive one. It was made on a
tight $1.4 million budget, but grossed only $115,000.
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| IMDb
guideline: 7.5 usually indicates a level of
excellence, about like three and a half stars
from the critics. 6.0 usually indicates lukewarm
watchability, about like two and a half stars
from the critics. The fives are generally not
worthwhile unless they are really your kind of
material, about like two stars from the critics.
Films under five are generally awful even if you
like that kind of film, equivalent to about one
and a half stars from the critics or less,
depending on just how far below five the rating
is. My own
guideline: A means the movie is so good it
will appeal to you even if you hate the genre. B means the movie is not
good enough to win you over if you hate the
genre, but is good enough to do so if you have an
open mind about this type of film. C means it will only
appeal to genre addicts, and has no crossover
appeal. D means you'll hate it even if you
like the genre. E means that you'll hate it even if
you love the genre. F means that the film is not only
unappealing across-the-board, but technically
inept as well.
Based on this
description, this film is a C+. Offbeat "alternate universe"
genre film that never comes out of character, like the comic
underside of Tim Burton's Gotham City. I think it demonstrates a
marvelous sense of humor, and I enjoy the film despite some slow
stretches.
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