Some movies are simply below criticism. I could accuse
Delta Farce of being stupid, but that's the point, right? I guess I should judge it by how often I laughed. Not very often, I'm afraid. This is a movie so witless and hollow, it barely passes for humor. The few jokes that are scattered about, writers Bear Aderhold and Tom Sullivan repeat numerous times. The latest star vehicle for Larry the Cable Guy is a small step up from his previous film,
Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, but that's kind of like saying getting your hand cut off is a step off from having your head cut off.
Larry (Larry the Cable Guy), Bill (Bill Engvall) and Everett (D.J. Qualls) are three dim-witted best friends who act as "weekend warriors" in the military when they're not holding down jobs at cheesy restaurants or sitting outside their trailer park homes drinking beer. It seems the war in Iraq has been stretched thin in terms of soldiers, so the three guys are immediately placed under the command of the screaming Sgt. Kilgore (Keith David) for a weekend of training before they're sent off to war. During the flight, there is a mishap, and the soldiers find themselves dropped off in Mexico instead. Thinking they're in Fallujah, the supposedly mentally challenged trio go off and liberate a nearby town from a group of bandits that have been terrorizing it, led by the unfortunately named Carlos Santana (Danny Trejo). It's unfortunate for the villain because everyone keeps on mistaking him for the famous musician, and it's unfortunate for us because we have to hear the same joke repeated six or seven times in the film. The boys unknowingly become the heroes of the poor villagers, and it takes them a lot longer than it should to figure out they're not where they're supposed to be. I know, that's the point of the joke, but this movie stretches it literally to the breaking point.
I suppose
Delta Farce could best be described as a military spin on the 1986 comedy,
The Three Amigos. There are even a couple scenes that almost seem to be lifted directly from that film. But even an appearance from the Singing Bush couldn't save this movie. When making this movie, director C.B. Harding seems to have forgotten that it's not good enough just to have your main characters be stupid, they have to be likeable too. Larry, Bill and Everett are so dumb that it's impossible for us to get behind them as characters. Thinking they're in Iraq, they refer to the locals as "shit-ites and turds". When one of the characters comes across a canteen filled with urine, he douses himself over the head with it, before he takes a long satisfying chug. These aspects, plus the fact that they don't realize they're not in Iraq until almost the hour mark of the movie makes rooting for these guys about as easy as rooting for a crippling disease to take over your body. To add even more, the film's three stars have absolutely zero chemistry or screen presence. Larry the Cable Guy mugs for the camera and says his signature "Git R done" catchphrase, but his comedic performance is completely shallow and he often seems lost. The fact that he tries to pass himself off as a romantic lead with one of the young village women is probably the funniest thing he does in the film. Bill Engvall is barely even there, and mainly stands in the background, which is a shame since his introduction scene actually made me smile a little. The worst offender is D.J. Qualls, who not only gives an annoying performance in this film as the dumbest of the three, but seems to be trying his hardest to make his character as unlikeable as possible. Mission accomplished.
The closest thing that comes across as a highlight is Danny Trejo's performance as the head of the bandits. He gets the film's best lines, and actually seems to have a sense of comedic timing, which the three main stars lack. He never quite gets to strike gold with his performance, due to the material he's been given, but he's energetic and made me smile on more than one occasion. Everyone else seems to have wandered in front of the camera by accident, and almost seem to have a deer trapped in the headlights look. Even the film's set of bloopers and outtakes played during the end credits seem sad, with the actors barely able to muster out a chuckle over their own mistakes. There is one part of the ending credits that made me laugh, though. Early on, a message appears that this film is dedicated to the men and women fighting overseas. A noble dedication perhaps, but I don't exactly know if this is the right movie to attach such a heartfelt message to at the end.
I highly doubt I'll remember
Delta Farce by the end of the summer. The film is just too empty in terms of comedy that you almost have to wonder why everyone involved even bothered to show up. I know that Larry the Cable Guy has an audience with his stand up routine, but maybe it's time he put his dreams of movie stardom on hold, and concentrate on what he does best. I don't think his fans are looking to see him as a romantic lead who decides to stay behind in Mexico so he can marry the young woman and open a restaurant. They're looking for laughs, and
Delta Farce provides too few for anyone to care.
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Some movies are simply below criticism. I could accuse Delta Farce of being stupid, but that's the point, right? I guess I should judge it by how often I laughed. Not very often, I'm afraid. This is a movie so witless and hollow, it barely passes for humor. The few jokes that are scattered about, writers Bear Aderhold and Tom Sullivan repeat numerous times. The latest star vehicle for Larry the Cable Guy is a small step up from his previous film, Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, but that's kind of like saying getting your hand cut off is a step off from having your head cut off.
Larry (Larry the Cable Guy), Bill (Bill Engvall) and Everett (D.J. Qualls) are three dim-witted best friends who act as "weekend warriors" in the military when they're not holding down jobs at cheesy restaurants or sitting outside their trailer park homes drinking beer. It seems the war in Iraq has been stretched thin in terms of soldiers, so the three guys are immediately placed under the command of the screaming Sgt. Kilgore (Keith David) for a weekend of training before they're sent off to war. During the flight, there is a mishap, and the soldiers find themselves dropped off in Mexico instead. Thinking they're in Fallujah, the supposedly mentally challenged trio go off and liberate a nearby town from a group of bandits that have been terrorizing it, led by the unfortunately named Carlos Santana (Danny Trejo). It's unfortunate for the villain because everyone keeps on mistaking him for the famous musician, and it's unfortunate for us because we have to hear the same joke repeated six or seven times in the film. The boys unknowingly become the heroes of the poor villagers, and it takes them a lot longer than it should to figure out they're not where they're supposed to be. I know, that's the point of the joke, but this movie stretches it literally to the breaking point.
I suppose Delta Farce could best be described as a military spin on the 1986 comedy, The Three Amigos. There are even a couple scenes that almost seem to be lifted directly from that film. But even an appearance from the Singing Bush couldn't save this movie. When making this movie, director C.B. Harding seems to have forgotten that it's not good enough just to have your main characters be stupid, they have to be likeable too. Larry, Bill and Everett are so dumb that it's impossible for us to get behind them as characters. Thinking they're in Iraq, they refer to the locals as "shit-ites and turds". When one of the characters comes across a canteen filled with urine, he douses himself over the head with it, before he takes a long satisfying chug. These aspects, plus the fact that they don't realize they're not in Iraq until almost the hour mark of the movie makes rooting for these guys about as easy as rooting for a crippling disease to take over your body. To add even more, the film's three stars have absolutely zero chemistry or screen presence. Larry the Cable Guy mugs for the camera and says his signature "Git R done" catchphrase, but his comedic performance is completely shallow and he often seems lost. The fact that he tries to pass himself off as a romantic lead with one of the young village women is probably the funniest thing he does in the film. Bill Engvall is barely even there, and mainly stands in the background, which is a shame since his introduction scene actually made me smile a little. The worst offender is D.J. Qualls, who not only gives an annoying performance in this film as the dumbest of the three, but seems to be trying his hardest to make his character as unlikeable as possible. Mission accomplished.
The closest thing that comes across as a highlight is Danny Trejo's performance as the head of the bandits. He gets the film's best lines, and actually seems to have a sense of comedic timing, which the three main stars lack. He never quite gets to strike gold with his performance, due to the material he's been given, but he's energetic and made me smile on more than one occasion. Everyone else seems to have wandered in front of the camera by accident, and almost seem to have a deer trapped in the headlights look. Even the film's set of bloopers and outtakes played during the end credits seem sad, with the actors barely able to muster out a chuckle over their own mistakes. There is one part of the ending credits that made me laugh, though. Early on, a message appears that this film is dedicated to the men and women fighting overseas. A noble dedication perhaps, but I don't exactly know if this is the right movie to attach such a heartfelt message to at the end.
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