Hey folks, Valkor here. Man when I put a request out for more comedies, some of you guys out there have really come through. Though they're not flooding in like the dramas and horrors, they do make for a nice break when I get the chance to review one. The next film to slide across my desk is one that I thought I'd be using as a coaster, instead I walked away having some lulz. Check it out, it's Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury starring Kevin Sorbo and Danny Trejo.
Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury begins with the film's Director/writer/producer everything guy Saint James St. James (the St. actually stands for street so yes his name is Saint James Street James) who talks about his original film Poolboy, which he shot back in the 90's when he was ten years old. The first film was destroyed and the second film was deemed too racist for release… except in Germany (for obvious reasons). Saint James goes on to explain that since he can't screen the first film, he'll give us the second with interviews, his commentary and even deleted scenes in between. I like how he explains that we don't need to see the first film in order to enjoy the second and compares it to the likes of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and the Matrix films.
Moving on to the actual film, "Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury" stars Jan Van Hammer who plays Sal Brando (played by Kevin Sorbo), a veteran who has returned home to Van Nuys, California after a rough stint in Vietnam; he lost his only friend, Fontaine (Deon Richmond) whom he was supposed to start a pool cleaning business with once they returned home. Sadly he never makes it out alive. And all that Brando has left of his friend is his arm. Upon returning home, Brando finds out his wife is having an affair with a Mexican named Eduardo (Bryan Callen), who is also a pool cleaner. He also learns that Mexicans have not only overrun his neighborhood but have also taken over the pool cleaning business. Brando steals the van belonging to his wife's lover and vows to reclaim that what was once an American job. But in the process his wife and son are killed as an act of revenge for stealing the van and now Brando wants to wipe the town clean of Mexicans altogether. To do that he'll have to go for the head Mexican, Caesar (Danny Trejo) unearthing a plot that could change the face of our nation as we know it.
The film has some pretty sweet cameos to boot such as Jason Mewes (Clerks, Shoot The Hero), Mark Curry (Hangin with Mr. Cooper), Alanna Ubach (Beakman's World), Ahmed Best (Star Wars - Jar Jar Binks), Jennifer Cox (Jan Brady from The Brady Movie), and a nice pair of nekkid boobs in Akira Lane. Poolboy is probably the goofiest film I've ever had to sit through in awhile, so let's see how well it scored in the TOV Breakdown.
The Good:
Without a doubt Poolboy is surprisingly funny and really serves up the laughs. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as did, but I'll be damned if I wasn't entertained. One of the best laughs I got out of the film was when Brando goes to meet Fontaine's wife, only to discover he and his crew were filming at the wrong address… and shit got real! I LOL'd for a good few minutes with that one. The jokes are mostly visual, though you get some nice verbal jokes too (I loved the whole "rock climbing" routine). I can't say much about the acting because I don't think anyone took this film seriously. However it did appear as though everyone was having a good time. And that's all that really matters, especially with this type of film. But kudos goes to Sorbo for doing something so unexpected and yet so funny.
The Bad:
The film starts to peter out about mid way and I caught myself dozing off at times. What I didn't care for at all was towards the end when Brando is seemingly killed with what turns out to be real bullets (ala Brandon lee); it just felt really tacky. In the film's defense he does return as it's explained that he faked his death to avoid a paternity suit. But you know, thinking back on it, I did laugh my ass off at his all-black funeral.
The Ugly:
I gotta give this one to Permanent Nutface Gary (Rob Lathan), who's permanently stuck in orgasm face while being stuck in a wheelchair and using a voice box ala Stephen Hawkings.
Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury is probably the stupidest film I've ever had to sit through. But in all honestly, it's the kind of stupid I can get behind. The film made me laugh and any comedy I can walk away from, while holding my sides, is a good one. And out of TOV 5 stars, I'm giving Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury a 3.5 and it's been Valkor Viewed, TOV Approved!
