30 Minutes or Less
I have no faith in myself to speak cogently about what goes on in this fractured farce. But I do have faith in director Ruben Fleischer. Yes, I liked Zombieland that much and am eager for his next, The Gangster Squad with Sean Penn.
OK, I’m drifting. The facts: Jesse Eisenberg goes crazy cuckoo but will not win an Oscar nod, like he did for The Social Network, as Nick, a pizza guy who delivers in 30 minutes or less. Promises are forgotten as two scuzzballs, immortally scuzzed by Nick Swardson and Danny McBride, strap a bomb on Nick and force him to rob a bank. The plot is (very) loosely based on a real case with tragic consequences. The movie is just an excuse for laughs that come fast, fat and raunchy as Nick mixes it up with Chet (hilarious Aziz Ansari), a teacher who’s Nick’s bestie except when Nick confesses his erotic cravings for Chet’s sister. The bomb? Fleischer isn’t much on details. It’s all about the zigzagging rush of the ride. Fair trade.
Related
• The 12 Must-See Summer Movies — Plus Five Unheralded Gems and Five More to Skip
• The Best and Worst Movies of 2011 — So Far