Within the first five minutes of "Champions," I knew I hated it. This was going to be that typical sort of post-modern comedy mixed with a hint of absurdism and grounded by of those annoying characters that grates on your nerves while the schlub protagonist sits by and takes all his inanity until he finally blows up and proves himself an idiot in front of everyone else around him. I think the first film that I ever saw like this was "Neighbors" with John Belushi and Dan Akyroyd. It's been done so many times now that it just isn't funny or even interesting anymore. It certainly isn't unique. "The 'Burbs" with Tom Hanks comes to mind. "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" is probably the only film of this type ever made that actually worked. You know the kind of film I mean. A "buddy" movie," where one of the buddies is a loser and the other is an asshole.

The schlub here is Kevin Corrigan, a despondent school teacher whose wife leaves him within the first two minutes of the film. The annoying prick is played by David Wike, a little known TV actor who also writes and directs here. For the first ten minutes, while other secondary characters are revealed and Corrigan and Wike heads to the country to work on a farm, the film is just this typical annoying dreck.

But once they guys do get to the farm and meet Uncle Doug, played hilariously by Xander Berkeley, the film begins to go beyond your typical schlub and asshole type "buddy comedy" and begins to become something more unique. Suddenly the absurdist angel begins to work and the cryptic nature of the dialogue becomes compelling. Wike and Berkeley aren't just the typical morons that you normally find in these kinds of movies who think its fun to screw with the other guys. There's some real intrigue and mystery going on here.

It is definitely the writing and acting that really help to make this film work. Some of the dialogue is particularly amusing. These are modern urbanites who have no business in a rustic setting. These are guys who think that the greatest compliment you can pay to another man is to call him a "Jedi." There are some really random moments and some really funny absurd lines. For example, when the guys cannot work together to plant a crop, Uncle Doug throws down his shovel and shouts, "Man is God in Ruins" with real disappointment and disillusionment in his voice and runs off into the woods. It's absurd and funny and weird and unlike any other moment in any other film.

When "Champions" tries to be typical, like giving Corrigan a lame love interest played by Clea DuVall, the film utterly fails. And, in the long run, this is probably one of the most trite films ever made. But there are moments of sheer brilliance, insanity and wit and just as often as not, this film makes you laugh out loud at its ability to juggle inanity and insanity and keep it from tumbling completely over the edge of what is believable into absurdity. This film never resorts to chaos or zaniness or slapstick to be funny. Often it has real charm and warmth at its core. Certainly it's not the best film I've ever seen, but it is a refreshing change of pace when all is said and done.

Note:

Also with Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Bill Nunn.

During production, the film was known as "The Land."

Filmed in Pennsylvania.

Viewed at the Alamo on South Lamar during SXSW in March of 2006 where the film had its world premiere.

Report Card

Script: B-

Acting: B-

Cinematography\Lighting: C+

Special Effects\Make Up: C

Music: C

Final Grade: B-