One can only expect so much from poorly written, low budget films filled with B-list actors. I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell tells the story of Internet blogger-turned-author Tucker Max and his two best friends as they go on a bachelor party road trip to a strip club.
Original, right?
Unless viewers are familiar with the likes of Eight Legged Freaks, Matt Czuchry ('Friday Night Lights'), who plays the lead of Tucker Max, will look anything but familiar. On solely a book-to-screen level, the film will certainly disappoint those who enjoyed Max's witty, albeit far-fetched, writing in the best-selling novel.
Those familiar with the book will see many scenes taken from the 'Austin Road Trip' section, in which Tucker arranges a bachelor party for his best friend and disaster soon ensues.
It almost seems like the film is one big pathetic attempt at copying the recent hit The Hangover. Unfortunately, I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell doesn't even come close to The Hangover's creativity and humor, which is usually pretty important to a comedy's success.
The characters are boring and unlikable – they lack a little thing called character development. The plot is cliché and poorly executed. And at 105 minutes, the movie could have been cut even shorter as some mundane scenes were drawn out, and poorly at that.
The strip club scene, in particular, seems to go on forever and becomes painfully tedious. However, the film does include a disturbing 'poop' scene, which is equally outrageous and disgusting. Even the strongest of eyes will find it difficult to watch and may have to turn away or make a mid-movie pit stop.
Most of the movie consists of Tucker talking about his sexual exploits and twisted stories. Czuchry, who resembles an innocent high school boy, is the wrong guy for this role and poorly portrays his supposed bad boy image.
Tucker, who is made out to be a misogynist, makes comments like, 'Your whole gender is hardwired for whoredom' and 'I want to shoot these b*****s.'
Have fun with those gems, female viewers.
Overall, I Hope You Serve Beer in Hell is just a sad attempt to satisfy the typical frat boy's sexist fantasy. Director Bob Gosse tries too hard to shock the audience when, in reality, he just bores them.
The movie is unfunny from the first minute to the last and is almost painful to sit through. Tucker should have accepted his best-selling novel and called it a day.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
