I really expected to hate this film. I didn't even want to see it. A friend dragged me to it. It stars folks from the "Upright Citizens Brigade" which aired on comedy Central. I don't like those Comedy Central shows like "Strangers with Candy." I didn't think I would like this either.

And the premise is really dumb. It's about a guy who goes to a psychiatrist and finds that the head doctor is crazier than he is. Not exactly a brilliant and innovative idea. But "Martin and Orloff" really has some interesting moments and it's creative cleverness and absurdism often times disarm the viewer, allowing him to laugh at the most ridiculous things.

From the beginning, the film hooks you. Since it is in the first 5 minutes of the film, I will give away this one scene. The main character has tried to commit suicide but doesn't succeed. After staying at a hospital for a few days, he goes home and begins to clean up the blood around the bathtub. That's crazy! I've never seen that before. It's so real that it becomes absurdist.

This film was written by it's main stars by improvising scenes and then turning these improvs into a script. The film often relies on the most ridiculous of ideas yet it crafts these into discernible plots. For example, the main character, the patient, Martin (Ian Roberts), works as a marketing executive who creates characters for logos and trademarks of companies. His big problem comes, however, when his clients refuse him to allow the costumes to have eye-holes so the actors inside can see out. They feel it ruins the authenticity of the costumes. Martin, of course, is worried about the safety of the actor inside the suit.

There are lots of cameos here to help us love the film. Only David Cross is stupid as a flamboyant playwright. Janeanne Garofalo appears for about 10 seconds. There is also Rachael Dratch and Tina Fey from "SNL" and the ubiquitous Andy Richter. Faces familiar from the Comedy Central show will also pop up here and there.

Director Lawrence Blume starts on shaky ground with some continuity problems. But eventually, he learns how to cover the impromptu moments and his film ends up looking quite nice. It's hard to believe it is shot on DV. The colors are rich and the film transfer is almost perfect.

Anyway, point it: This is a funny film if you allow it to be sort of ridiculous. Only Cross is unfunny here. Worth seeing.

Notes:

The Upright Citizens Brigade has a theater in NYC. Blume lives close by and that is how he got to know the players.

Seen at SXSW 2002.

Martin & Orloff Producers wrote in response to Lodger's review:

Hey, thanks for reviewing our film Martin & Orloff at SxSW. Just wanted to clear up two things... The movie was shot on HD 24p, not DV. BIG difference. That's why it looked so good for video. I was introduced to the UCB through a friend when I helped Matt Walsh edit a documentary he was working on. But I do live near the theater and was a fan... Good web site! Lawrence Blume

Report Card Script: B- Acting: B+ Cinematography\Lighting: A Special Effects\Make Up: B Music: B Final Grade: B+

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