This film should be entitled: Two Tickets to Snoozeville. I hate to be so harsh, especially since this film enabled me to totally nerd out for a minute to enjoy D.B Sweeney and Moira Kelly reunited. They first caught my attention as odd-couple pairs figure skaters Kate Moseley and Doug Dorsey in 1992’s The Cutting Edge. Ice queen Olympics skater Kate can’t seem to keep a partner. Her extensive entourage has run through a roster of names all to no avail before taking a chance on wild card and former hockey player Doug Dorsey, whose eye injury in 1988 has kept him out of the game. The two immediately hate one another, constantly bicker and complain, eventually go to the Olympics, and ultimately, fall in love. All the while mastering a nearly impossible Russian figure skating move that’s a cross between a death spiral and just plain swinging Kate around by both ankles like a baseball bat before her letting go. In any event, if I am reminiscing about The Cutting Edge while watching this film that’s never a good sign.
Unfortunately, although they play husband and wife in this film, they are only on screen together for a total of five minutes (if that). Kate, (yep, her character’s name in this film is the same as it was in The Cutting Edge, which may or may not have been intentional by co-writer D.B Sweeney) looks exactly the same as she did in 1992, and is caught having an affair with a neighbor. Sweeney’s character is Billy McGriff of the McGriffters, an aging singer whose wife’s indiscretion serves as the catalyst for a road trip with his two best friends. All three of them are stuck in the Pennsylvania town where they grew up. His two friends include, Jason (Paul Hipp), unappreciated at his retail job until he wins two tickets to the College Championship Bowl in an employee raffle and decides to offer the tickets to his two high school buddies; and Mark (John C. McGinley), whose glory football days are long gone, leaving him an obsessive gambler--so much so that he loses his family. Thus making no better time than the present for a road trip.
Their trip is supposed to be full of crazy antics, fights, make-ups, and ultimately self-discovery, right? This doesn’t quite translate as well as it should. Instead, their hang ups seem predictable and their antics unmemorable. Such as when McGriff pees outside only to be entrapped by a swamp animal. Unmemorable, indeed. The most notable scene is a trip to Vanna White’s house, where the three have the bright idea to buy a whole bunch of fireworks and set them off in her honor, in front of her childhood home. They inevitably set the roof on fire and run screaming.
A cameo by Ed Harris as a prophetic carnival man spices things up, but only briefly. Vanna White herself also makes a cameo at the football game. A small cameo by the late Pat Hingle (Splendor in the Grass, 1961) as Mark’s dad is particularly enjoyable. One note on technology, I understand that this film was made in 2006, but when their hard copy road map flies out the window, no one has internet on their phone?
DVD Bonus Features
The disc has a Director’s commentary with D.B Sweeney where he reveals that Moira Kelly was indeed named Kate as a nod to The Cutting Edge, and if he had known he was going to be able to get her for the film he would have amped up her part. He also points out all of the shameless product placement in the film and the various unexpected support he received as an independent filmmaker. There is an alternate trailer which labels each character as “the rocker,” “the valedictorian,” etc, which I think actually helps paint a clearer picture of the story they’re trying to tell. Some funny outtakes and gags pulled on set are featured as well.
"Two Tickets to Paradise " is on sale September 14, 2010 and is rated R. Comedy. Directed by DB Sweeney. Written by D.B. Sweeney, Brian Currie. Starring DB Sweeney, Ed Harris, John C McGinley, Moira Kelly , Pat Hingle, Vanna White .
