‘Supercon’: Film Review

1:09 PM PDT 4/26/2018 by John DeFore ‘Milius’ co-director Zak Knutson goes solo together with his characteristic debut a few heist at a sci-fi conference. Fourth-tier style celebrities attempt to rob from the hand that feeds them in Supercon, an almost laughless caper comedy from Zak Knutson. Setting a number of foul-mouthed, foul-tempered characters unfastened at a kind of regional Comedian-Con-type affairs the place has-been TV stars take images with followers for cash, the pic works in a well-recognized milieu: Viewers who really feel they’re trapped in a low-rent Kevin Smith knockoff will likely be unsurprised to study that Knutson, earlier than collaborating on a diverting 2013 doc about John Milius, made a handful of video docs about Clerks II, Chasing Amy, and different Smith productions. Although devoted fanboys might discover it value a chuckle or two on streaming shops, most will discover it as unsatisfying as a photograph op with an additional from Star Trek V: The Last Frontier. Keith Mahar (Russell Peters) was a toddler actor within the ’80s, taking part in an ethnic-caricature sidekick to “Tex Johnson,” a TV lawman performed by former sci-fi icon Adam King. Out of labor for years, dealing with divorce and an offended landlord, Keith depends on paid meet-and-greets for lease cash; however the best way he drags himself to the gig, you’d assume he was able to stop. A buddy from this circuit, Ryan Kwanten’s Matt Wheeler, is much extra perky, maybe as a result of followers acknowledge him with out prompting. No conference celeb visitor right here is in increased demand than Keith’s previous costar King, whose claims to fame (which recall T.J. Hooker and Star Trek) place him as a William Shatner sort. As scripted and performed by Clancy Brown, although, King has nothing like Shatner’s eccentric enchantment; he is only a generically useless actor who sweeps into every new con and collects his money. Followers are thrilled to face close to him for a photograph, however anybody who has labored with King detests him. Keith and Matt are exploring native BBQ with two different bottom-rung celebs (Brooks Braselman and Maggie Grace) after they get right into a spat with King, main the conference’s supervisor (Mike Epps’ Gil) to kick them out of the occasion. Broke and offended, they hatch a plan to get even, stealing tons of of hundreds of {dollars} from Gil’s protected earlier than he will pay King for his look. Matt imagines a number of attainable situations for the theft, all of which contain Grace’s Allison McNeely (a comic-book artist) to get in skimpy cosplay outfits and seduce somebody. The plan they ultimately decide on enlists the assistance of a doddering previous comic-book author named Sid (John Malkovich). Malkovich seems to be saying sure to any film he is provided as of late; no matter harm that is doing to his worth as a severe actor, his presence provides slightly increase to this low-wattage movie. Carrying a rosy, dumb-looking wig, Sid is an old-timer who has earned the bitterness he feels towards Adam King, and is glad to distract him whereas the gang goes for his loot. The motion does not begin till an hour into the image, and is as unimaginative as all the things that has preceded it. (How a lot would you wish to guess that somebody climbs via a air flow duct?) The third act is noteworthy largely for a painfully prolonged gag that sends one forged member face-first into a bathroom filled with diarrhea. It is not a cheerful day when a film causes you to assume “man, I want I have been watching Jay & Silent Bob Strike Again proper now.” This is hoping the top credit’ promise of a sequel are as delusional as Adam King’s vanity. Manufacturing firm: Momentum ProductionsDistributor: Archstone DistributionSolid: Ryan Kwanten, Maggie Grace, Mike Epps, Russell Peters, Brooks Braselman, Clancy Brown, John MalkovichDirector: Zak KnutsonScreenwriter: Zak Knutson, Andrew Sipes, Dana SnyderProducers: DJ Dodd, Mike Epps, Ken Gorrell, Susan CorrellGovt producers: Julie B. Denny, Maria J. McDonald, Lori OwenDirector of pictures: Zoran PopovicManufacturing designer: Freddy WaffCostume designer: Bonnie StauchEditors: Dustin Chow, Jay Wade EdwardsComposer: James L. VenableCasting director: Nancy Nayor R, 99 minutes http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/reviews/film/~3/lfsCtRe2-oo/supercon-1106242