Wow. That's all I have to say bout this little gem. Wow. I found it on ShowtimeXtreme while scanning my program guide after a long night of reading for a class. The name Peter Weller was all I needed to pull me in, and this film did not disappoint.
In addition to DTVC Hall of Famer Peter Weller, this film has Balthazar Getty, Rebecca Gayheart, Corin Nemec (for like five minutes), the bad guy from The Mask, and Michael Dorn. I must say, even though I'm not a huge Trek guy, and I watched CHiPs long before Dorn donned the big bump in ST: TNG, it's still fun to see him in anything post Trek playing something other than a Klingon. It's an added wrinkle that this movie didn't need, but had, which made it all the more special.
Getty plays a recovering addict who takes a third shift job at a convenience store to support his wife Gayheart and the child they're expecting. He meets Weller, who plays a mysterious writer. Weller takes Getty all over the city, getting him into this situation or that, each one slightly more disturbing than the first. We start to wonder exactly who Weller's character really is, and it's never fully explained, but I think he's supposed to be the devil. In one great scene, Weller takes Getty to a pit fight, only to have Weller as one of the combatants. He roundly destroys his opponent, which frightens Getty, but is amazing to me.
What's not to like about this movie? It's got plenty of P Dubs, and we're reminded once again why he's in the Hall of Fame. As in other DTV movies he's done, he lends a touch of class and professionalism we often don't see in A-List stars doing big name pictures (Cage in National Treasure comes to mind, as does Travolta in the fraudulent Punisher-- we all know the real one had Dolph in it.). This movie doesn't just stop at Weller, though. They take it up a notch by adding in a post-Trek Dorn. Simply first rate. Furthermore, there isn't an overbearing plot or too much Getty to dampen the good parts. The Breed could take a cue from this and the way they used Adrian Paul.
If I have one qualm, it's simply that this movie, when compared to some of Weller's other DTV greats, is a little lacking. If Top of the World or Shakedown didn't exist, I'd give this an A. But they do, so this is a B.
Rent this, buy this, TiVo it: it's all worth it. P Dubs lives up to his Hall of Fame name. This is the kind of movie you pass up a The Breed for. Do what you can to find this, you won't be disappointed.
For more info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0226430/
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