(Short)
Rating:
Director: Steve Herold
Producer: Steve Herold
Writer: Steve Herold
Cinematography: Richard Siegel
Cast: Joe McClean, Kevin Kolack, Sabrina Gennarino
Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew
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H.R.
PUKENSHETTE (Short) Rating: Director: Steve Herold Producer: Steve Herold Writer: Steve Herold Cinematography: Richard Siegel Cast: Joe McClean, Kevin Kolack, Sabrina Gennarino Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew |
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Review by: Dan
Tester
3/9/03
When I was 10, there was nothing funnier in the whole damn world than a good fart joke. Me and my best friend Matt would go see movies every weekend, and nothing registered such glee in our immature souls than that beautiful sound of gas exploding in the wrong place and time. Man, just the memories of it make me want to fart. Normally, we were lucky to get just one of these kinds of scenes in only 1 out of every 20 movies or so, and even then it would usually be just one brief moment. But it would be fodder for giggles for a week afterward. Some time midweek, I would say something like, "Modern Problems was really hilarious wasn't it, Matt?" and Matt would say, "especially when Nell Carter farted during the elegant dinner scene," and then I would smile and make a "brffffffft" sound, and we would both immediately drop to the floor in hysterics. Those are moments that can be remembered fondly, and for that I am eternally grateful that the new film H.R. Pukenshette wasn't available for screening when I was 10, because I am quite confident it would have killed Matt and I. We would have had kiddie coronaries, but regretted nothing; it would have been well worth it. But now, as I have just turned 34 and watched H.R. Pukenshette, the only thought I left it with was, "this thing is winning awards?"
Sure enough, the press notes indicate that it has won best film in the Sick Puppy Film Festival (fitting I'm sure) and also the Audience Award in the London England Highgate Film Festival. There are raves from Film Threat claiming "We Loved it!", the Marin Independent journal announcing "Genuinely Funny!" and DVD TALK noting "One of the More Interesting Films I saw (during Sundance)." Oh yeah, Dr. Demento also says "It's a Gas!" Maybe I missed something, but all I contemplated while watching H.R. Pukenshette is the fact that I have never experienced a 10-minute film that seemed to run too long.
H.R. Pukenshette concerns the story of "The Dude" (Joe McClean), who has just been dumped by his obnoxious girlfriend. He gets really drunk, throws up the most disgusting and realistic looking puddle of vomit I have seen in a while (some kudos are due here), and is amazed as the puddle materializes into a Sid and Marty Krofft "Pufnstuff" like creature named H.R. Pukenshette. Pukenshette counsels The Dude on his depression for a few minutes and then escorts him on a whirlwind musical montage in a park to pick up chicks (reminiscent of those early Letterman shows when Dave and Zsa Zsa Gabor would go to the beach accompanied by "Just in Time" by Frank Sinatra.) Unfortunately, Dave Letterman was funny, and apparently Steve Herold is not.
That's pretty much it. Of course there are lots of poop and fart jokes, people kissing a big pile of puke, token midgets, bad jokes and bad acting. Christ, with that description, I actually make it sound interesting. Just take it with a grain of puke, please. I understand this is a low budget venture, and good for the filmmakers for at least accomplishing something with their aspirations, but it is just stupid. I know, I know, it's supposed to be, right? People appreciate it because it is so stupid, and there is some brilliance to that. But there is nothing more painful than someone "trying to be funny, but hiding behind the fact that it is too stupid to be funny and is really brilliant satire" and having them fail on both counts. This was just pretty much a stupid waste of time.
I think the filmmakers should focus more on their target audience for the one-line raves in their press notes, because I am convinced that positive reviews from The Weekly Reader and Highlights Magazine surely will make this one of the most successful films of all time. Actually, I'm in a good mood, so I will at least give them a one-line review that they are free to use in their press kit if they so desire: "It's better than Swept Away!"
"BRFFFFFT." That was for Matt.
But as always, it is only one man's opinion.
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