The Godfather of Green Bay (2005)

Joe Keegan is the 'Rocky' of stand-up comedy. A fifteen-year comedy veteran who was pegged for stardom early on in his career but has blown every major audition he has ever had in legendary... See full summary »

Director:

Pete Schwaba

Writer:

Pete Schwaba

Stars:

Tony Goldwyn, Lauren Holly, Pete Schwaba

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Goldwyn	...	Big Jake Norquist
Lauren Holly	...	Molly Mahoney
Pete Schwaba	...	Joe Keegan
Jimmy Pardo	...	Higgins
Lance Barber	...	Kenny Caruso
Brian Cashen	...	Heckler
Donna Brower	...	Heckler's Mother
Gary Brichetto	...	Lou
Robert Martin	...	Slugs (as Rob Martin)
Ivona Rocque	...	Tonya
Mike Toomey	...	State Trooper
Jeffrey Hoge	...	Bartender Jeremy
Thomas Lennon	...	DUG
Steve Seagren	...	Ralphy
Eric Price	...	Ratboy

Storyline

Joe Keegan is the 'Rocky' of stand-up comedy. A fifteen-year comedy veteran who was pegged for stardom early on in his career but has blown every major audition he has ever had in legendary fashion. Fresh off a recent fiasco with a heckler that included a broken nose, Joe's friend Kenny tells him he can get them an audition for 'The Tonight Show' and that it's 'a can't miss.' The one catch is that it's at a roadside bar in tiny Pine Lake, Wisconsin, hometown of Tonight Show Talent scout, Harvey Skorik who never misses 'Rocktoberfest.' Having doubts but needing a break from L.A., Joe reluctantly agrees to go. Arriving in Wisconsin, Joe bombs his first night on stage when local emcee Dug sabotages him. Joe cannot get a break until he encounters his former high school English teacher, the beautiful Molly Mahoney who is also at a crossroads in her life, coming off a failed marriage. Molly is excited for Joe's 'Tonight Show' opportunity. Joe tells her he just wants to prove to himself that...

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Plot Keywords:

color in title | place name in title

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexual content and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Állj ki a szerelemért

Filming Locations:

Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blue Moon Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"69 Blues"
Performed by BoDeans
Music and Lyrics by Sammy Llanas / Kurt Neumann

User Reviews

To the 1 star reviewist- my ten cents

Are you a bitter out of work filmmaker or something? Granted, this movie was not quite as good as people on IMDb.com suggest, but you make it sound like its completely pointless - it's not.

Pete Shawba is a first time director and this story has been stated as being autobiographical. The film was in fact shot in Marinette, Wisconsin for less than a million dollars, and as a filmmaker, I thought many things were impressive, not extraordinary, not bad.

One of the things you have to consider when you make a low budget movie is that you will have many unknown or first time actors appearing in the movie either underperforming, overperforming, or surprise you and hit it right on. The Godfather of Green Bay did that.

The biases you're referring to are people from Marinette who recognized many of the locations (I'm from Marinette as well but I try to remain on neutral ground.) There were some things that I did not like: the overuse of the Macarena, the emphasis of stereotypes and the overall low budget feel when the bartender announces that Rocktoberfest has begun- it seems as if this event only takes place in a small bar, where a field full of campers, stages, and drunk Wisconsinites would be more appropriate. Instead we get the later, which if you're like me (An indie filmmaker), the lack of depth is forgivable.

As for Lauren Holly and other name actors appearing in the film, they all performed well and kudos for appearing in a film that obvious isn't mainstream and paying for a second home in Hollywood.

Last word: This movie, for the first time in movie history, shows Northeastern Wisconsin in bloom of fall, capturing the beauty of the tree along the highways near Marinette. I was please to recognize many locations (Mickey Lu's and Trade Winds in Marinette, the playground on the Menominee, MI Marina with the library in the background. I loved seeing Wisconsin on film and I was pleased to see that someone other than myself has made a movie in Marinette.

5 out of 10.