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The Wedge
USA 2012
produced by Joe Clarke (executive), Tim Nash (executive) for Backrow Studios
directed by Joe Clarke
starring Mike Schminke, Isai Rivera Blas, Thomas Beecher, Tyler Thirnbeck, Jamie Schiller, Steven Hullana, Gabriel Thompson, Matt Sheridan, Erick Tjarks, Brandon Holmes, Wisdom Nwafor, Joseph Canales, Dave Juehring, Patrick Bottaro, Jeremy Ray Smolik, Becca Anderson, Alejandro Alonso, Franci Sciorrotta, Nolan MacMillan, Patrick Richards, Dominic Alvis, Joe Sciorrotta, Justin Froehlich, Rydin Froehlich, Jacob Maxey, Jonah Maxey, Seth Maxey, Randy Miller, Donald Fabian, Steve Kennevan, Paul Walker III
written by Joe Clarke
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Pizza boy Flint (Mike Schminke) is not having the best July 4th ever,
his girlfriend (Becca Anderson) has left him two days ago, he has to
deliver pizza on a day where most people are especially drunk and rude,
and his moronic superiors (Gabriel Thompson, Matt Sheridan) don't show him
the least bit of respect. So what could possibly make his day worse? Well,
he could witness a gangster boss kill one of his henchmen, and then have
said boss's other henchmen chase after him - and that's exactly what
happens. Quan Dao (Isai Rivera Blas) has long planned to raid a local
casino hotel with the help of his moronic computer-whiz nephew Barney
(Steven Hullana), and Barney has the ill-fated idea to order a pizza to
their hideout. Now Quan Dao has the unhealthy habit of shooting his
henchmen, just to prove his power, and Flint the pizza by witnesses one
such murder ... and thus suddenly he finds himself on the run. Out of
desparation, he and his colleague and best friend Bo (Thomas Beecher)
steal a car ... only to notice there's a baby in the car - which of course
makes things worse, because not only is Flint on the run from killers now,
he's also wanted for kidnapping, and he can't even go to the police to
clear his name because he's afraid the killers might catch up. All he has
got going for him is Bo to watch his back ... but Bo is grossly
independable and seems to fade into and out of the proceedings rather at
random. Well, things spin even more out of control from here on pretty
quickly, another inevitable car theft leads to Flint kidnapping three kids
who eventually end up drugged at his friend's place, he's almost stopped
cold by an ill-conceived citizen's arrest, and when he tries to persuade
Cassie (Jamie Schiller), a girl from work who has a crush on him, to help
out, she and he both are made captives by Quan Dao's henchmen. And Quan
Dao wants to make Flint a key element in his casino heist. Well, it can
only go downhill from here on - and it does ... The Wedge
is a low budget indie comedy that looks and feels like low budget indie
comedies should look and feel: It's quirky, it's driven by good ideas and
elaborately set up situations rather than relying on gross-out humour and
fart jokes, it is based on a well-structured story that drives the humour
rather than just being a hanger for jokes, and it keeps its humour
throughout, doesn't drop it when the action sets in or for a heart-warming
finale. Add to this a great sense for pacing, well-shot action scenes that
are never too ambitious for the film's budget, and a likeable and
competent cast, and you've got yourself a pretty good film. Totally
recommended.
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