There are a number of things that will/should stand out to you as you watch this movie. First of all, Jeff Daniels is stupendously cast. There may not have been a better role for him on the planet. In my own humble estimation, Mr. Gornicke may have even been a better fit then that guy he played in Dumb & Dumber. You know, Roy or Lloyd or Jeb or some other inbred name. All you need to know about his performance can be summed up in one word: chagrin. That's right, chagrin. It may not mean much to you now, but much like the crucifixion of Christ, it'll all make sense in a few days. That is, if you see the movie within a few days. Otherwise, that metaphor goes from tasteless but accurate to just plain tasteless. Oh, and Daniels's mustache? That baby is straight up Ron Jeremy-rific.
Ron Jeremy-tacular.
Ron Jeremy-tastic.
You know, there's really no good way to turn his name into a superlative, is there? Anywho, moving on.
Porn star 'staches aside, RV relies on Robin Williams to be the man who stirs the drink that is the cast of caricatures, be it the bitchy 16-something year old hot daughter (hey, Williams's boss wasn't the only guy checking her out), the 8th grade "wiggah" who looks like an 8 year old (I don't want to look freakish. Well then you should have grown more, tyke), and the backwoods Gornicke family, probably up from the Alabama region (what happens between the Gornicke children stays with the Gornicke children). Honestly, let's just call a spade a spade and rename this movie Robin Williams Owns An RV. Same movie, but now I know to look out for those uniquely Williams-esque stand up monologues that occur once or twice in every one of his films. Well, maybe not every one of his films; I didn't catch them in Insomnia, and I don't think that One-Hour Photo left many rolling in the aisles with laughter, not unless you find stalking photo developers funny.
Okay, so maybe I chuckled. Sue me.
This movie has just about everything folks. You have your daughter's friend who hugs trees and, despite eating tofu and soy and other "Enviro-friendly" chick food, just happens to be 250 pounds. I half expected her to moo at certain points during her five-minute cameo. You have Robin Williams, in what appears to be a metaphor explaining his entire career, being covered in a shower of shit. You even have a decent couple of MILFs, including Kristen Chenoweth, who can strum my ukulele all night if she wants.
No, seriously, I have a band and we're looking for a ukulele, and she seemed to play hers pretty good during the movie. I didn't mean that as a double entendre. Honest. I mean, afterward, when she's done playing the ukulele, of course I'd like to shag her rotten. She is a MILF, after all. But, until that point, I have only the purest of intentions.
Is this the best comedy I've ever seen? Holy crap, no. The undisputed champion there is Grandma's Boy, with Wedding Crashers in second place and Old School coming in as best in show. But I do think that, in a few months, this will make for a decent DVD rental and a much better way to spend your time than masturbating and crying because your "girlfriend" won't return your calls. Just a thought: maybe she didn't find it all that endearing when you laughed hysterically during Frasier re-runs, pretending to get the jokes. Oh well, live and learn Niles. Live and learn.
"RV" opens April 28, 2006 and is rated PG. Comedy. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Written by Geoff Rodkey. Starring Cheryl Hines, Hunter Parrish, Jeff Daniels, Kristin Chenoweth, Robin Williams, Tony Hale, Will Arnett.
