Run Ronnie Run (DVD)
Directed by: Troy Miller
Written by: David Cross, Bob Odenkirk, Scott Aukerman, BJ Porter, Brian Posehn
Starring: David Cross, Bob Odenkirk

You know its a bad omen for a movie when the creators,on their own website, disown all involvement: “Pleasestop wanting to see the movie, asking about it, oronline chatting about it.” I can’t say I entirelyagree with the above statement, as while “Run RonnieRun”, the first and perhaps only “Mr. Show movie”we’ll ever have presented to us, is certainlydisappointing, begging and pleading David Cross andBob Odenkirk for its release is time well spent, asits at the very least, a worthy rental, and aninteresting examination on how potential can bespoiled.

Run Ronnie Run in some ways was cursed from day one. Following the format of several failed SNL movies, itis based on a recurring character from the TV showwithout enough depth to carry a movie on his own.Ronnie Dobbs (Cross) is a beer drinking southernredneck who, with the help of Terry Twillstein(Odenkirk), a British cameraman for the TV show FUZZ(a COPS type show), becomes a national reality TVsuperstar, running from police in cities all acrossNorth America. For those unfamiliar with Mr. Show,this might come across as a “Joe Dirt” ripoff, whichprobably helped keep it out of theaters. I can’t saythe comparison is unwarranted, as while Ronnie hadbeen created years before David Spade’s character, theHappy Madison Production sentimentality is firmly allover (and out of place in) this film. A major problemis the very fact that the reality TV spoof idea isalready out of date and will be even more out of datewithin the next few years. While the Survivor, JudgeJudy, COPS, etc. digs are funny, you can’t help butfeel you’re watching a taped episode of MADTV.

There are a few decent one liners now and then, butthe movie is only truly funny when the movie trailsoff the Ronnie Dobbs storyline into somethingcompletely different. In other words, when its morelike a Mr. Show episode, its funny. In one of thesescenes, Scott Thompson (one of a zillion cameos,including Andy Richter, Dave Foley, Matt Stone, TreyParker, Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Warburton, Ben Stiller,Bruce Villanch, oh the list goes on and on)accidentally uncovers the vast gay conspiracy. Theother two are musical numbers starring Jack Blackdoing a hilarious take on the Dick Van Dyke characterfrom Mary Poppins, and a music video sequence from 3Times 1 Minus 1, Bob and David’s white R&B duo, thechorus of which proclaims “Pussy Doodle Doo! I stuckmy penis in your thoughtful vagina”. Both of thesemusical numbers are destined to become favorites formp3 downloaders everywhere.

The rest of the music in the movie is typical moviesoundtrack stuff lifted from real bands, which doesn’treally work well with the Mr. Show style. They couldhave produced more of the musical numbers themselves,as the South Park boys tend to do in their films.

It is clear from watching Run Ronnie Run’s deletedscenes that there is a comedy classic somewhere inthere that never got a chance, obviously due to Cross& Odenkirks battles with the studio and the directorover creative control. Perhaps they should haveeliminated much of the Ronnie Dobbs storyline and justused it to connect a series of longer, movie and TVparody sketches. Instead of taking subtle or obviouspotshots at movie cliches, too often Run Ronnie Runends up a victim of them. It is sad that things didn’twork out, as at the very least, they could haveproduced a “Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy” sort ofmovie, a film that might not live up to the show inlaugh out loud comedy, but still would have been trueto the show and more geared towards its fans. Still,I highly recommend a viewing for the hardcore Mr. Showfans. The few good parts are too good to miss, and atthe worst, its still better and more watchable thananything Rob Schneider will ever be a part of. — Goon

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