Trailer
Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar
Format: DVD - Unrated
DVD Features: Commentary, party foul featurette, frog fluffer featurette, deleted scenes, trailer
Starring: Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Cloris Leachman, Steve Lemme, Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan
**This movie was nominated for a Gummi Award in the Most Nauseating Vomit Scene category.**
America's favorite pastime? You think it's baseball? Well, I think it's drinking! I'd bet a case of your favorite brew that more people in this country drink than watch baseball. After all, what goes better at the ballpark than a pint and a bag of peanuts? So, it stands to reason that a few frat boy-ish comedies would be made about the golden elixer. If America is populated with beer-guzzling folks, what about Europe? More specifically, the famous land of Octoberfest - Germany?!
In Beerfest, two brothers, Jan and Todd Wolfhouse (Soter & Stolhanske), travel to Germany to deliver the remains of their grandfather. At Octoberfest, they manage to set off a Rube Goldberg type fiasco. Just as they're making their escape, the man their grandmother sent them to meet, Mr. Schniedelwichsen (Bjørn Johnson), rescues them and delivers them to the "real" drinking match - Beerfest! At this underground beer-lympics they learn about their family's past and have their butts kicked by the German drinking team. After returning to America in disgrace, they decide to gather the ultimate team of brew drinkers and train for next year's games.
This movie is sort of a Fight Club/Olympic Games mashup. There are a few lame gags - such as the German team spying on the Wolfhouse's in a submarine and the Jewish member of the team joining solely to beat the Germany - that will make you roll your eyes. It's not without its share of gratutious naked breasts either. There's even a frog ejaculating scene, just for gross-factor. The plot is very straightforward, as expected, and doesn't take a genius to understand. The German team is decidedly retarded, but not nearly as amusing as the Nihilists in The Big Lebowski. The movie does poke fun at itself. After one of the teammembers unexpectedly leaves the group, his twin brother shows up, needing no training and asking to be called by the same name. It's mockingly convenient.
What about dialogue? As typical of most movies of its ilk, Beerfest has a gaggle of puns and one liners. However, they manage not to drill them into the ground and a few lines incited a giggle or two ("Let's go get sour on some Krauts?"). The sight gags are on the same level. There's a sausage scene that reminded me of a few Austin Powers routines.
As befitting of a well-rounded team, there's a variety of characters involved in Beerfest. The director, Jay Chandraskehar, plays Barry - a prodigy at Quarters and ex prostitute. Landfill, played by Heffernan, is a hot-dog eating champ who used to work at the local brewery. The requisite geek on the team is Fink (Lemme) who has worked out the science of drinking. Together, they make a hilarious group and each actor has his moment. Cloris Leachman is delightful as the elderly German grandmother.
For the most part, comedy is not my bag. I've grown tired of the sight gags and potty humor. I like my laughs delivered in clever quips and sarcastic remarks. As I'm fond of saying, "I'm a Marx Bros. not a Three Stooges." From time to time though, I will indulge in a Scary Movie or two. I had my concerns about renting Beerfest and honestly only did so because of the rules of The Gummi Awards. Surprisingly, Beerfest wasn't half bad. I enjoyed the characters, the plot and the humor. It wasn't entirely low-brow either. The DVD production and special features were also above par. I'm happy with Beerfest and definately recommend checking it out at least once. It's even better with a few drinks under your belt!
Overall Rating: 3 1/2
Hottie Rating: 1 (Barry kinda has it goin' on)
Alternate Recommendation: The Big Lebowski
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