Macon Blair (The Toxic Avenger remake) directs and co-writes with Alex Orr a stoner comedy that is surely going to cement itself as a cult classic down the road, that has all the makings of a stoner comedy but missing the drunk fueled madness that comes with one. Now that is not to say there are not drug induced antics (there is a solid twenty odd minutes of this) but the entire movie isn’t a Harold and Kumar or Dude Where’s My Car stoner vibe. While the movie changed names originally from Sh*theads to Idiots, the former of which is still the better title, it kind of encapsulates everyone in the movie equally, they all range for how horrible they are, but none of them are particularly good. Regardless though, despite the unredeemable and truly unlikable characters, the cast is great and the movie itself is a riot of ridiculous proportions, so strap yourself in and turn the brain off as you bear witness to idiots.
Idiots focuses on two people, Mark and Davis (Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr.) who are just down on their luck. They are trying to keep their life together, unable to keep a job, and the jobs the do end up having/getting aren’t glamourous in the least and what should be a relatively easy job turns into a 72 chaotic adventure from hell. They’re transport drivers, they have to take a wealthy delinquent teenager Sheridan (Mason Thames) to rehab, once he’s dropped off the jobs done and they’re paid. Easy enough, or so they think. They don’t know why Sheridan has to go to rehab, and when they eventually do find out why he is going to rehab, they realize this relatively routine job, that should have been easy is far from routine or easy and they’re in for the trip of their lifetime. Along on the journey, is a plethora of characters they meet along the way including Irina Anastas (Kiernan Shipka) who Sheridan screws over, as well as Karl ‘Koko’ Sandoz (Peter Dinklage) Joe Thom Pell aka Pricka Bush da Werewolf (Nicholas Braun) and Alyssa ‘Lissy’ Dandry who get Sheridan in even further over his head than he initially thought he was. What starts as a simple pick up and drop off becomes a nightmare for everyone involved, and an adventure truly no one is ever going to forget.
The reason why Idiots works is the chemistry between Franco, Jackson and Thames. None of them like each other, but there is a mutual understanding and eventual found respect between the three of them that makes their dynamic work. Franco and Jackson who are literally paired together just to get a job done and make a buck, while Thames wants to be the unhinged ‘package’ they need to deliver, just works, they’re all channeling a deep hatred for each other, but for their own preservation eventually find a way to work together – or not – just to ensure everyone’s literal survival. Franco who is known for more comedic efforts shines bright, but Jackson certainly brings the authoritative and comedy too, while Thames packs a punch with his rebellious attitude. However, it is a completely unglued Nicholas Braun that truly steals the show when he’s present delivering a cross between Jim Carrey at his most unhinged and Mark Duplass in The Creep Tapes television show that brings an entire new level of madness and chaos to the forefront for the film.
Blair and co-writer Orr bring forth an incredibly smart and equally chaotically dumb movie that can be equated as the stoner Transporter. With performances from the entire cast, including Kiernan Shipka doing her best to be the one to steer the ship once she gets involved, bring their all to the forefront, Idiots is one of those rare movies that is just delightfully stupid. There is nothing to further seek or some deeper meaning behind this movie, and there doesn’t need to be – it’s simply about some people trying to pay the bills, a bad egg, and the wild adventure they all get up to that is surely going to be enjoyed while a little stoned, tossing some popcorn back and reveling in the sheer chaos that unfolds.
