Watching Michael Fredianelli's latest low-budget opus THE BIG SLEAZE is like being at the state fair and riding one of those old school roller coasters being run by a drunken carny. You feel scared and kind of dirty during the experience, but when it's over you want to get right back on. Writer/director Fredianelli casts himself as sleazy scamming slacker Chuck Peterson who, through a series of mistakes and misadventures, finds himself the suspect in a triple murder investigation, on the lam from gay Asian snuff filmmakers, and involved in a plot to blow up Disneyland. The film begins a bit slowly and the extended dialog in some scenes tend to bog down the early part of the film. But Fredianelli's caffeine-fed hopped up performance keeps you involved until the film starts to take on a life of its' own and the thrill ride really begins. The plot gets sillier, the characters get funnier, and the payoff is more than you could have ever hoped for.
This is an action comedy that throws the kitchen sink at the viewer. Some of it works and some of it doesn't, but it is worth taking the missteps to get to the comedic payloads that lie ahead. While some of the dialog is uninspired, much of it is laugh-out-loud funny. The action highlight is a riproariously funny shopping cart chase scene. The Disneyland scenes and the final shootout are inspired comedic genius. But the real joy of THE BIG SLEAZE is the cast of supporting characters that Chuck becomes involve with. Robert Amstler as European "rouster" Steve Harlow, Thomas Gallegos and the kid Kyle, and Henry Lee and Michael Nose as Asian gangsters are particularly noteworthy. Some of the soundtrack choices as well as the animation also have their moments to shine.
THE BIG SLEAZE is outrageously over the top and perverse. It may not be the perfect ride for all, but for many it will be a wild ride well worth taking.
This is an action comedy that throws the kitchen sink at the viewer. Some of it works and some of it doesn't, but it is worth taking the missteps to get to the comedic payloads that lie ahead. While some of the dialog is uninspired, much of it is laugh-out-loud funny. The action highlight is a riproariously funny shopping cart chase scene. The Disneyland scenes and the final shootout are inspired comedic genius. But the real joy of THE BIG SLEAZE is the cast of supporting characters that Chuck becomes involve with. Robert Amstler as European "rouster" Steve Harlow, Thomas Gallegos and the kid Kyle, and Henry Lee and Michael Nose as Asian gangsters are particularly noteworthy. Some of the soundtrack choices as well as the animation also have their moments to shine.
THE BIG SLEAZE is outrageously over the top and perverse. It may not be the perfect ride for all, but for many it will be a wild ride well worth taking.