Brad wrote:

Watch Strangeheart. I DARE YOU!

Strangeheart- Dir. Brian Hedenberg 2003

So, my Netflix is in full effect, and I’m ready to rock and roll on some of these more difficult to find dares. I had already seen the trailer for “Strangeheart”, and actually got a laugh out of it, so I was looking forward to seeing the whole thing. This movie was made with an ultra-low budget by patrons of 2 pubs in Dallas, Texas. As the opening credits proudly state, everyone you see on camera is a novice. SWEET!

Something special happens when a bunch of compadres join forces and make a movie together. Now, “Strangeheart” is not without its flaws, but most are caused by budget restraints, and all are overshadowed by a permeating sense of camaraderie and good will. These guys had a blast making the movie, and it shows through in every scene. Most of the reviews and synopses I’ve read place the effort somewhere between Monty Python and Mel Brooks, and I can’t say that I disagree. There are a lot of pretty inventive gags, a lot of old gags rehashed, and a few musical numbers that will truly blow your mind (in one way or another). “Strangeheart” is a bit of an anomaly, but it goes to show that one good idea in the right pub can go a long way.

The Plot: Just like “Braveheart”, but a little less cohesive. If you’re planning on a viewing, I wouldn’t put too much effort into making your brain connect the scenes together. My advice would be to watch “Braveheart” the day before, and get all your story elements in a row, then the next day, let “Strangeheart” do its thing.

What makes it watchable: The sound quality is this film’s biggest drawback (which is usually the hardest part of any low-budget movie to get right). A lot of the dialog is hard to understand–sadly, the musical numbers get hit pretty hard. One of my favorite scenes in the movie, when the King does his big dance, is carried more by visual cues than by anything you can hear (though, the lyrics to the songs are pretty decent, even if they’re hard to make out).

The sight gags in the movie range from things you’ve seen a few times before, to stuff that is really original and pretty funny. There are quite a few times where I couldn’t believe I was laughing at what was on screen (I mean, you see a guy running around with a big sword–but for some reason, it’s hilarious).

The best thing about this film is that you are constantly aware that this is a movie made by friends who are having the time of their lives. That fun is inescapable, and simply oozes from the screen while the movie is on. Sure, the acting isn’t great, and yeah, the sound leaves a bit to be desired, but the bottom line is, these guys had a great idea, and ended up executing it with style and, dare I say, a bit of class. This movie is quite an accomplishment; good job, y’all!

Times I had to avert my eyes: 0

Breaks necessary to complete viewing: 2 short ones

Overall rating from one to 10: 7.5 

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