Many, many moons ago, I made a conscious decision to stop recommending comedies – even genre comedies – as a practice.
Now, I decided as such not because I don’t like comedies because absolutely nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve written comedy. I laugh – both at myself and others – constantly. I’ve tried to live my wife with some attention always directed at the absurdities I encounter along the way; and friends and family will tell you that I’m always pointing them out, even occasionally in poor taste. What can I say? It’s just how I’m wired. Yet, the reason that I finally grew exhausted over sharing such observations is that I found most folks just don’t see the world the way I do.
Laughing together? That’s all well and good. Laughing alone? Meh. That’s kinda/sorta lonely.
Still, even now and then I’m apt to crawl just a wee bit out of my bubble when I’ve had some fun with an otherwise negligible feature; so that’s what I’m doing today with the genre Comedy Rapture-Palooza (2013) from Lionsgate Films. This perfectly acceptable middle-of-the-road exploration of End Times isn’t anywhere the big budget yuckster I think most audiences would embrace; and yet it’s still the kind of subversive and unassuming bit of passable entertainment we used to get with flicks like Airplane! (1980), The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad (1988), and Hot Shots (1991). The films weren’t smart; rather, they were theatrical looney tunes given a bit of screen time from folks who bought into the absurdity and embraced it for what it was. They knew full well that there was an audience hungry for such schlock, and they hoped for nothing more than to seek out and find them as giddy over their effort as they were in making it.
Rapture-Palooza isn’t quite up to the same level of charm, but it’s about as close as I’ve seen in some time. To me, that fact alone makes it worth a thumbs up.
(NOTE: The following review will include minor spoilers necessary solely for the discussion of plot and/or characters. If you’re the type of reader who prefers a review entirely spoiler-free, then I’d encourage you to skip down to the last few paragraphs for the final assessment. If, however, you’re accepting of a few modest hints at ‘things to come,’ then read on …)
From the film’s IMDB.com page citation:
“Two teens battle their way through a religious apocalypse on a mission to defeat the Antichrist.”
Now, I decided as such not because I don’t like comedies because absolutely nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve written comedy. I laugh – both at myself and others – constantly. I’ve tried to live my wife with some attention always directed at the absurdities I encounter along the way; and friends and family will tell you that I’m always pointing them out, even occasionally in poor taste. What can I say? It’s just how I’m wired. Yet, the reason that I finally grew exhausted over sharing such observations is that I found most folks just don’t see the world the way I do.
Laughing together? That’s all well and good. Laughing alone? Meh. That’s kinda/sorta lonely.
Still, even now and then I’m apt to crawl just a wee bit out of my bubble when I’ve had some fun with an otherwise negligible feature; so that’s what I’m doing today with the genre Comedy Rapture-Palooza (2013) from Lionsgate Films. This perfectly acceptable middle-of-the-road exploration of End Times isn’t anywhere the big budget yuckster I think most audiences would embrace; and yet it’s still the kind of subversive and unassuming bit of passable entertainment we used to get with flicks like Airplane! (1980), The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad (1988), and Hot Shots (1991). The films weren’t smart; rather, they were theatrical looney tunes given a bit of screen time from folks who bought into the absurdity and embraced it for what it was. They knew full well that there was an audience hungry for such schlock, and they hoped for nothing more than to seek out and find them as giddy over their effort as they were in making it.
Rapture-Palooza isn’t quite up to the same level of charm, but it’s about as close as I’ve seen in some time. To me, that fact alone makes it worth a thumbs up.
(NOTE: The following review will include minor spoilers necessary solely for the discussion of plot and/or characters. If you’re the type of reader who prefers a review entirely spoiler-free, then I’d encourage you to skip down to the last few paragraphs for the final assessment. If, however, you’re accepting of a few modest hints at ‘things to come,’ then read on …)
From the film’s IMDB.com page citation:
“Two teens battle their way through a religious apocalypse on a mission to defeat the Antichrist.”
Well, The Beast (as played by Craig Robinson) has finally come up from the flaming depths to stake his claim on what’s left of mankind not long after ‘The Rapture’ hauled off all of the good and decent to heavenly pastures. Lo and behold, this politician-turned-Antichrist will stop at nothing to claim what he feels is rightfully owed him, even if that means wiping the Earth clean of any souls that would stand in his path to (un)righteous gratification. What’s a world destroyer to do when he’s suddenly smitten with Lindsey Lewis (Anna Kendrick) and her virginal charms but to strike down any and all who would deny him the chance to – ahem – spread a little seed?
So, yes, Rapture-Palooza is the occasionally vulgar laugher that tries to rather broadly take a few swipes at the end of life as we know it; but – for what my opinion is worth – it does so in about as good-hearted way one might when breaching a topic of such – ahem – Biblical proportions. It ain’t easy crafting a comedy that deals with religion; and, thankfully, Rapture avoids as much as possible making jokes at any particular faith’s expense. Instead, it revels in the excesses by way of characters who themselves might be a bit cardboard and/or stereotypical (the world’s last virgin, an increasingly vulgar failed deity, shysters who are trying to still get rich even though they know they’re likely bound for darkness); and – in that respect – I found it pleasantly amusing.
Lindsey and her fiancé Ben House (John Francis Daley) seem like good people – the neighborhood kids who found romance in one another’s arms – but can’t quite figure out exactly why they weren’t sucked up to Heaven. While they’ve written it off to the fact that they simply never went to church, they’ve merely accepted their Fate and gone about the business of getting on with life. However, it doesn’t take long for – ahem – God’s wrath to be felt when he strikes down their simple sandwich cart with a smoldering boulder that fell from the Heavens, so things are looking increasingly grim for their still-planned nuptials.
Hoping to give them a chance at gainful employment, Ben’s dad (Rob Corddry) opts to drag them along to his job at The Beast’s mansion one day. It’s here that things take a turn for the even worse as the all-new Mr. Big takes a liking to the fetching but perpetually dour Lindsey. When she rejects his advances, The Beast presents her with his Earthly ultimatum: accept his hand in marriage by nightfall or he’ll wipe everyone she loves from existence.
So, yes, it should be fairly clear to all involved that Rapture isn’t about any literal translation of the Bible, its Book of Revelations, or Armageddon in general. This is pure Comedy, and – as is always the case where nothing is to be granted any measure of legitimacy – a great deal of its effect can and will be measured by the personal tastes of those who watch it. As I’ve often opined, my sense of humor gravitates a bit toward the Dark Side of things, and I ended up having my fancy tickled by a good deal of The Beast’s shenanigans. Yes, it’s arguably going to offend those with delicate sensibilities, but – as I said above – it’s been one of the first flicks I’ve come across in ages that truly felt like it was inspired by the insane spirit of some of the great laughfests of the bygone era. The stuff that came from Jim Abrahams, Pat Proft, and brothers Jerry and David was sheer insanity; and Rapture hits many of the same benchmarks.
So, yes, Rapture-Palooza is the occasionally vulgar laugher that tries to rather broadly take a few swipes at the end of life as we know it; but – for what my opinion is worth – it does so in about as good-hearted way one might when breaching a topic of such – ahem – Biblical proportions. It ain’t easy crafting a comedy that deals with religion; and, thankfully, Rapture avoids as much as possible making jokes at any particular faith’s expense. Instead, it revels in the excesses by way of characters who themselves might be a bit cardboard and/or stereotypical (the world’s last virgin, an increasingly vulgar failed deity, shysters who are trying to still get rich even though they know they’re likely bound for darkness); and – in that respect – I found it pleasantly amusing.
Lindsey and her fiancé Ben House (John Francis Daley) seem like good people – the neighborhood kids who found romance in one another’s arms – but can’t quite figure out exactly why they weren’t sucked up to Heaven. While they’ve written it off to the fact that they simply never went to church, they’ve merely accepted their Fate and gone about the business of getting on with life. However, it doesn’t take long for – ahem – God’s wrath to be felt when he strikes down their simple sandwich cart with a smoldering boulder that fell from the Heavens, so things are looking increasingly grim for their still-planned nuptials.
Hoping to give them a chance at gainful employment, Ben’s dad (Rob Corddry) opts to drag them along to his job at The Beast’s mansion one day. It’s here that things take a turn for the even worse as the all-new Mr. Big takes a liking to the fetching but perpetually dour Lindsey. When she rejects his advances, The Beast presents her with his Earthly ultimatum: accept his hand in marriage by nightfall or he’ll wipe everyone she loves from existence.
So, yes, it should be fairly clear to all involved that Rapture isn’t about any literal translation of the Bible, its Book of Revelations, or Armageddon in general. This is pure Comedy, and – as is always the case where nothing is to be granted any measure of legitimacy – a great deal of its effect can and will be measured by the personal tastes of those who watch it. As I’ve often opined, my sense of humor gravitates a bit toward the Dark Side of things, and I ended up having my fancy tickled by a good deal of The Beast’s shenanigans. Yes, it’s arguably going to offend those with delicate sensibilities, but – as I said above – it’s been one of the first flicks I’ve come across in ages that truly felt like it was inspired by the insane spirit of some of the great laughfests of the bygone era. The stuff that came from Jim Abrahams, Pat Proft, and brothers Jerry and David was sheer insanity; and Rapture hits many of the same benchmarks.
Everything – including the kitchen sink – is up for parody here. The Biblical conventions of great plagues, blood rain, and locusts are skewered for the film’s easiest laughs; and then – all of a sudden – Earth survivors are overwhelming by cursing crows. (I kid you not, I think I laughed the most at this bit.) Yes, the dead rise again, and it’s all milked for laughs as the neighbor guy – a zombiefield Mr. Murphy (Tom Lennon) – just persists on mowing his lawn … even without a lawnmower. Just about everything we’ve ever learned about the Fall of Man gets a bit of exposure in here, and absolutely none of it is ever given a hint of seriousness.
That, my friends, is how I’ve always liked my Comedies.
Rapture-Palooza doesn’t always work. Robinson – while great – occasionally takes his sex talk a bit too far, making his schtick sometimes kill the vibe he so winning hits in other places. While I’ve never been a big fan of Kendrick’s work (a bit too monotone in her delivery), she’s delightfully deadpanned throughout most of this, so much so that I really wanted her to – ahem – bust loose with her sexuality in the second half (which she never does), and it tonally feels a bit too underplayed. The genius John Michael Higgins – he plays Lindsey’s somewhat manic father – is gone too soon from the procedure (yes, his death is funny), and I think the picture could’ve been better served with him getting a bigger role, even if that meant a different part entirely.
However, there’s just so much in here that works … from the devious wraiths being irrepressible potheads to the surviving youth still eeking out the usual mindless existence that I found Rapture-Palooza blessed with the kind of understated commentary that makes for a winning experience … despite the Fate of man being diminished in the process.
Rapture-Palooza (2013) was produced by Lionsgate Films, Mimran Schur Pictures, and Mosaic. The film is presently available for streaming on a variety of streaming platforms. As for the technical specifications? Meh. While I’m no trained video expert, I thought the overall quality of the sights-and-sounds were largely good; inferior or subpar special effects do kinda/sorta enhance the comedic quality of the film, so don’t look for blockbuster sequences, if you catch my drift. Lastly, if you’re looking for special features? Since I streamed this one on Amazon Prime, there were no special features under consideration.
Recommended.
As I’ve tried to be clear, I long ago gave up on trying to recommend what I find uniquely funny – mostly because folks all too often disagree – but I’ve still no problem admitting that I enjoyed Rapture-Palooza (2013) probably more than most. It properly skewers about every subject it breaches, thus making it a very old school style attempt at lampooning the conventions we’ve accepted as part of our existence. Its performances are all a bit over-the-top, and its cast and crew clearly had one defining purpose in bringing it to life … to make people laugh. In my little corner of the universe, there’s still great value in achieving such modest results.
In the interests of fairness, I’m beholden to no one for this review of Rapture-Palooza (2013) as I streamed it via my membership with Amazon Prime.
-- EZ
That, my friends, is how I’ve always liked my Comedies.
Rapture-Palooza doesn’t always work. Robinson – while great – occasionally takes his sex talk a bit too far, making his schtick sometimes kill the vibe he so winning hits in other places. While I’ve never been a big fan of Kendrick’s work (a bit too monotone in her delivery), she’s delightfully deadpanned throughout most of this, so much so that I really wanted her to – ahem – bust loose with her sexuality in the second half (which she never does), and it tonally feels a bit too underplayed. The genius John Michael Higgins – he plays Lindsey’s somewhat manic father – is gone too soon from the procedure (yes, his death is funny), and I think the picture could’ve been better served with him getting a bigger role, even if that meant a different part entirely.
However, there’s just so much in here that works … from the devious wraiths being irrepressible potheads to the surviving youth still eeking out the usual mindless existence that I found Rapture-Palooza blessed with the kind of understated commentary that makes for a winning experience … despite the Fate of man being diminished in the process.
Rapture-Palooza (2013) was produced by Lionsgate Films, Mimran Schur Pictures, and Mosaic. The film is presently available for streaming on a variety of streaming platforms. As for the technical specifications? Meh. While I’m no trained video expert, I thought the overall quality of the sights-and-sounds were largely good; inferior or subpar special effects do kinda/sorta enhance the comedic quality of the film, so don’t look for blockbuster sequences, if you catch my drift. Lastly, if you’re looking for special features? Since I streamed this one on Amazon Prime, there were no special features under consideration.
Recommended.
As I’ve tried to be clear, I long ago gave up on trying to recommend what I find uniquely funny – mostly because folks all too often disagree – but I’ve still no problem admitting that I enjoyed Rapture-Palooza (2013) probably more than most. It properly skewers about every subject it breaches, thus making it a very old school style attempt at lampooning the conventions we’ve accepted as part of our existence. Its performances are all a bit over-the-top, and its cast and crew clearly had one defining purpose in bringing it to life … to make people laugh. In my little corner of the universe, there’s still great value in achieving such modest results.
In the interests of fairness, I’m beholden to no one for this review of Rapture-Palooza (2013) as I streamed it via my membership with Amazon Prime.
-- EZ
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