A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how the Broken Lizard crew is a shining example of the DIY spirit. In that piece, I mention how the comedy troop has been putting good shit out into the world for the last three decades, and they’ve been doing it their way. This week, that streak continues with Quasi, dropping on Hulu on 4/20. I was fortunate enough to be among the crowd to see it last Wednesday at The Belcourt Theatre after I was a few gin and tonics deep. That’s the recommended manner of consumption for this one, too – drunk as responsibly possible with your crew. I’d say call up the gang for a viewing party at your place once this drops on Hulu. If you’re a fan of the Broken Lizard style, their latest effort won’t disappoint.
Quasi centers around Quasimodo…yes…the Hunchback of Notre Dame…that Quasimodo (played by Steve Lemme in a role that he seemed destined to play)…and his hut-mate but definitely not best friend, played by Kevin Heffernan. I have no idea how to spell the character’s name and I am so sorry for dropping the ball on that one. I don’t usually review the movies around here, and I can’t find the character’s name anywhere on the internet. Anyway, the two are subjected to the daily grind at the torture chamber, not unlike most of us at our cubicles every day. When Quasi literally wins the lottery, he gains audience with the Pope (Paul Soter) and the King of France (Jay Chandrasekhar), and ends up intertwined in their nefarious plots as one tries to gain power over the over. What ensues is a winding tale of love, murder, the underdog, and oysters…lots of fucking oysters.
It’s funny. I could just type those two words, wrap this review up, and call it a day. It’s that simple. What we’ve come to expect from this troop is abundant in spades in this film. It’s the signature Broken Lizard style, a variety of comedy that bobs and weaves between slapstick, physical humor, 4th-wall-breaking one-liners, corny jokes that are so on-the-nose you can’t help but laugh, dialogue that riffs off of real life, and Office-esque interactions between characters. It feels like an improv show, and these guys are so so good at blurring the lines between different comedy sub-genres and offering audiences a little bit of everything. The thing that impresses me the most about Quasi is how they timed their delivery and execution so that no joke wears out its welcome. They know when and how to sprinkle the bits across the entire movie, and it lands so well.
Each Broken Lizard member plays dual roles in this one, each offering something unique to this comedic effort. Adrianne Palicki fits naturally into the Quasi universe as the queen caught up in all of this nonsense, and her performance anchors the story in a way that keeps it from ever going too far off the rails. It’s just the right amount of clearly-off-the-rails-and-we’re-probably-going-to-die-but-fuck-it. But, it’s Lemme’s Quasi that feels like the MVP of this comedy, and it was a performance that had me feeling nostalgic for Adam Sandler’s Little Nicky (yes, I was one of the few kids who thought Little Nicky was hysterical).
Quasi is quintessential Broken Lizard, and it’s a reminder of what this troop is capable of at their best. You’ll find that it’s highly quotable and features its own bits within the bit that make it unique among their other movies. At a time when it doesn’t feel like there are many good comedies coming out, this one delivers in grand sophomoric fashion. For me, it’s every bit as good as Super Troopers, and I’m not going to really argue with you if you end up seeing it and calling it their best movie yet. They really dial it up with this one – I’m not sure we go longer than 10 seconds without a laugh, and it’s a complete effort from all of the comedy things that Broken Lizard does so well.
To me, this felt like a bit of a mic drop…a reminder of just who the fuck Broken Lizard is. It was the Michael Jordan flu game for these guys. It was the Derrick Henry 2,000-yard season for these guys. Critics, we don’t need to overthink this one. If you want to put it next to Chocolat and Little Women, yeah, you’ll see a difference. But, if you put it next to Scary Movie and Road Trip, you’ll find a pretty spotless effort that belongs among the great raunchy and/or spoof comedies that have helped to define the genre over the last 23 years. It was Broken Lizard letting us all know good and damn well that they’ve still got their fastball.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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