In a nutshell

Frank is driven over the edge by reality TV, spoilt American brats, possibly a brain tumour, but mostly the American people’s having lost their ability to be kind. Frank decides to do something about it. With a gun, of course.

Mood of the film

Darkly funny. Murderous. Kind. Yeah, really. The fact that Frank and his partner in crime dress in thrift store attire adds to the darkly funny nature of this film. Check out the “house on the prairie” dresses and sweaters!

Best performance

Joel Murray (last seen in South Africa as the clown-loving Eddie Jackson in Shameless) plays Frank as endearing, menacing, but most of all coherently clever.

Standout scene

You’re not going to like it. It’s offensive and violent, but oh so effective. It is a dream sequence, luckily. It involves clay-pigeon-type shooting. The pigeon is a baby, though.

Negatives

Too much of the film is given away in the trailer. Even though the killings are still powerful and relevant, they were almost all included in the trailer.

Is the film relevant today?

Duh.

Does it cop out?

Nope. Frank is not insane, depressed or driven to these acts by the brain tumour. Roxy was not molested or thrown out of the house. They are completely lucid and aware of what they are doing. They might have different reasons for mowing people down, but they’re both committed right to the end.

Details

Title: God Bless America
Cast: Joel Murray and Tara Lynne Barr
Director: Bobcat Goldthwait
Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
Reney’s Score: 90%