I understand that Stretch was not given a theatrical released and went straight to video. I wonder why? I suspect the reasons were as much, if not more, political than commercial or artistic.
I have been following Joe Carnahan's films since I came across Narc, his very disturbing tale of corruption in a narcotics department starring Jason Patric and Ray Liotta. (It was made on a shoestring after Ray Liotta was impressed by the script and hearing that Carnahan couldn't raise the funding, paid for it himself and starred in it.) The follow-up, the very, very different Smokin' Aces is, I must admit, not to everyone's taste, though it was to mine: a manic, cartoonish tale told with flamboyance and wit. It improves at the second watching.
Stretch is more in the vein of Smokin' Aces, with the same convoluted story structure and manic developments. It shouldn't come off, but it does. I have to admit that it takes a while to get into its stride, but stick with it, and you will be rewarded. But as I say, it went straight to DVD so it certainly didn't impress everyone. But if you get the chance to see it, don't pass it up. I think it works because Carnahan has characters play it straight in situations which are beyond ridiculous and that is a harder act to pull off than any number of mindnumbingly stupid gross-out 'comedies'.
There is in Stretch a certain internal logic which, although it doesn't make a drop of sense in the real world, does make sense in context, and Carnahan is skillful at pulling that off. He also has a nice line in witty dialogue, lines which don't come across as clever-clever. But what the hell, suck it and see. I think most will be pleasantly surprised.
I have been following Joe Carnahan's films since I came across Narc, his very disturbing tale of corruption in a narcotics department starring Jason Patric and Ray Liotta. (It was made on a shoestring after Ray Liotta was impressed by the script and hearing that Carnahan couldn't raise the funding, paid for it himself and starred in it.) The follow-up, the very, very different Smokin' Aces is, I must admit, not to everyone's taste, though it was to mine: a manic, cartoonish tale told with flamboyance and wit. It improves at the second watching.
Stretch is more in the vein of Smokin' Aces, with the same convoluted story structure and manic developments. It shouldn't come off, but it does. I have to admit that it takes a while to get into its stride, but stick with it, and you will be rewarded. But as I say, it went straight to DVD so it certainly didn't impress everyone. But if you get the chance to see it, don't pass it up. I think it works because Carnahan has characters play it straight in situations which are beyond ridiculous and that is a harder act to pull off than any number of mindnumbingly stupid gross-out 'comedies'.
There is in Stretch a certain internal logic which, although it doesn't make a drop of sense in the real world, does make sense in context, and Carnahan is skillful at pulling that off. He also has a nice line in witty dialogue, lines which don't come across as clever-clever. But what the hell, suck it and see. I think most will be pleasantly surprised.