You know that a movie isn’t very good when the studio comes running to you with an interview opportunity after opening weekend (speaking of which, check out Will Harris’ chat with producer Adam McKay), but although “The Goods” may not be very funny, it’s still a better-than-expected comedy thanks to its ensemble cast. Jeremy Piven stars as Don Ready, a smooth-talking car salesman who’s made a living by conning his way to the next big sale. But when his traveling team of liquidating specialists (including Ving Rhames, David Koechner and Kathryn Hahn) is hired to save a flailing dealership by selling every car on the lot, Don discovers that the job might be too big even for him. Though the idea is ripe for some pretty funny material, the story feels a little too safe compared to the crude humor that appears throughout. Thankfully, director Neal Brennan is completely unforgiving of the film’s vulgar tone, and it ends up working to its benefit. Piven’s confident, fast-talking schtick is tailor-made for the lead role, but it’s character actors likes Ken Jeong, Rob Riggle (playing a 10-year-old boy with a pituitary disorder), and Craig Robinson who end up stealing the show. “The Goods” isn’t for everyone, but for fans of the comedians involved, it’s probably worth checking out.
I rented this a couple weeks ago (I guess Hollywood had some kind of exclusive). For about the first 15 minutes I thought I was watching an overlooked classic…then its charms began to wear extremely thin, and by the time it was over I pretty much hated it.
I guess it probably doesn’t speak any better of it if I tell you that, next week, I’m doing an interview with Alan Thicke in conjunction with its DVD release. Yep, all those names, and the biggest one to do press for the film is Alan Thicke. (Not that I’m not excited, anyway, you understand.)
I loved the documentary “Slasher,” which revolves around almost exactly the same premise, so I went into “The Goods” with high hopes, but it was so unnecessarily filthy at times that, although I really liked parts of it, I can’t actually recommend it.
Good luck on that interview, Will. My only thought upon seeing him in the film was, “Man he looks old!” Of course, it’s not like he’s young, but still. Why don’t you ask him his thoughts on those dreadful Jesus movies Kirk Cameron keeps pumping out? And if he’s at all curious if Joanna Kerns may come out as a lesbian now that Meredith Baxter has set a precedent?