BUCKY LARSON: BORN TO BE A STAR DVD (2011)
SYNOPSIS: Bucky [Nick Swarsdon] is a small town grocery bagger, going nowhere in life until he discovers that his conservative parents were once adult film stars! Armed with the belief that he has found his destiny, Bucky packs up and heads out to LA, hoping to follow in his parents footsteps.
MOVIE REVIEW:
You might not be familiar with his name but I’m sure you have seen his face somewhere perhaps in “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry”, “Just Go With It” or the recent “Jack and Jill”. Nick Swardson has been playing the bit roles for years and “Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star” marks the comedian first foray as a leading man.
With a measly US$2 million domestic box-office and with 5 nominations in the 2012 Razzies, the premise involves a small-town bumpkin, Bucky Larson who aspires to be a porn star in California after learning that his squeaky clean parents are actually porn stars in the 70s. Problem is he has a tiny wanger and absolutely uncontrollable ejaculation.
Of course, you expect something more, especially one that pokes fun at the porn industry. The script by Happy Madison’s regular, Allan Covert, Swardson himself and their boss, Adam Sandler demonstrates the increasingly decline of Happy Madison productions. The scripting here is plain lazy and the gags turned out to be nothing sizeable or in this case, if any to speak of. Will you actually laugh at gooey stuff being stuck on the ceiling or Swardson’s enthusiastic orgasmic expressions? I tried to at least snicker but failed on both accounts. And the endless jokes at the expense of Larson’s buckteeth are cringing and pointless.
Peppering the cast members with names such as Christina Ricci (Sleepy Hollow), Stephen Dorff (Blade) and Don Johnson (from the 80’s Miami Vice) doesn’t help much either. Ricci plays Larson’s love interest, Kathy, a character that sees the big-hearted man in Larson instead of his pathetic genital. The ex-child star is more than competent for a role like this and I hope the paycheck is enticing enough. Dorff’s character, Dick Shadows, an arrogant and leading porn star with a manhood that can cast a long shadow is a wasted opportunity to draw in the laughs. Don Johnson is at his best being a has-been porn director, Miles Deep, his performance flawless though his name is the only thing funny.
At the end of this 97 minutes movie, the mystery is yet to be resolved. Is this supposed to be laugh-a-minute crass comedy? Or a light-hearted drama about a country boy made good? Give this a rent and see for yourself, maybe Happy Madison believes some cheap shots of tities is worth the price.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Laughter is Contagious is a 5 minutes gag reel that is simply not that funny.
The cast and crew discuss the making of the movie in Behind The Teeth.
Gary: Tough Customeris a short feature on comedian Kevin Nealon.
Bucky Sparkles takes a close-up look at Bucky’s orgasmic’ expressions.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Dialogue is crisp, audible and images, colour tones appear natural and vibrant.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
