Film Showcase Blogspot Review of "Two-Minute Heist

FILM REVIEWS AND COMMENTARIES 

By Gerald Wright 

http://www.filmshowcase.blogspot.com

TWO-MINUTE HEIST

Directed by: Kris Arnold & Dan DeLuca

Running time:  95 min.

Genre: Comedy

Tom Graham as Officer Stynke and Dan Deluca as Dino Rado

Many films are funny and some are quirky, but there are very few that are brilliantly funny and quirky.  Debut directors Kris Arnold and Dan DeLuca created this clever satire of the film industry's casting profession.  In this case, it is considered a dysfunctional casting business that finds itself on the brink of going out of business.

Dino Rado and Steve Scheere (Dan DeLuca and Kris Arnold) are two misfits who run a casting office whose last picture was a major flop.  It's not too hard to take a failure in the movie business, however this flop was financed by the Jamaica Mob, who are in the "weed" business and desperately want their investment money returned to them.  The mob goes as far as kidnapping the dip-witted goodie two shoes office manager Ryan (Brian Sherman) as a means of collection.

While watching this film, my first thoughts was of the silly humor that the "B" movies showcased during the 1940s and 1950s.  Yet, the well crafted script kept the theme in a contemporary setting, giving the audience a real since of connection.

Kris Arnold as Armando

This plot driven presentation adds quirky drama when the two protagonists quickly devise a plan to conduct a casting call for a heist on the Jamaican mob's casino.  At this time, the story introduces the love interest of Dino who is a gun-toting street smart Claudia Brit brilliantly portrayed by Natalie Diorio.  Dino auditions Claudia for the heist after viewing her martial arts demo tape and finds his attractions to her growing.
     

Other hilarious characters shine in this crisp paced film , such as, the misguided actors who go for the try-outs for the various parts in the soap box parody.  They are zany individuals who had me holding my stomach from laughter.  This is not to forget the humorously frustrated Jamaica Mob who seem to stumble constantly on their recovery of their money.  Not to be a spoiler, but the plot of the soap box parody is to rob the Jamaicans of their drugs and money.

This film includes high energy pacing with plots deliberately designed to amuse and provoke laughter (with one-liners and jokes) by exaggerating the situations, language, action, relationships and characters. 

Brian Sherman as Ryan

Additional fine performances are from Kate Debelack, Allana Kirk, Carlyncia S. Peck, Menchu Estaban, David Herscheld, Charles Winter, Michael Trott, Pam Gingsberg, David J. Kenney, Joe Sampson and Edward Willson who make this a complete funny cinematic package.

FILM RATING (B+)