Bucky Larson: Born to Be Star DVD Review
By: Matt C
Please welcome Matt C back to the site. Here is DVD review for a movie that no one went to see in theaters.
Is Bucky Larson a cult classic in the making, or just a poorly-made, uninspired film which deserves its critics?
The definition of a cult film is hard to pin down. Classics like The Dark Backward or Begotten either appeal to you or make you want to vomit. But in general, one can define cult film as one which is derided by the press before underperforming, only to rise like a phoenix in the home entertainment market. Their following grows over the years, climaxing (no pun intended) in midnight showings with avid fans, who act out their favorite lines and even come dressed as the characters they have grown to admire. The more these storylines become preposterous, the closer they get to achieving that cult status moniker. Think Blade Runner or Rocky Horror Picture Show!
Based on these standards, Bucky Larson: Born to Be Star is definitely a contender. After being slammed by critics and fans alike, being dubbed one of the worst films of the year, the film generated only $2.3 million before being pulled after its second week of release. But like house mold or termites, Bucky Larson has resurfaced as part of this week’s releases. Should we call out the exterminator, or give this one a chance to grow in dark corners?
The Movie – 4/5
Bucky (Nick Swardson) lives in a small town bagging groceries, when he and friends learn that Bucky’s parents (Edward Hermann and Miriam Flynn) were once porn stars. They’ve even kept a box of their ‘work’ for Bucky as a 50th birthday present; but that’s not enough for the naïve, buck-toothed, and virgin Bucky, who is determined to succeed in the same ‘industry’ as his mom and dad. He boards the next bus for Hollywood to fulfill his destiny, instead meeting Kathy (Christina Ricci, Sleepy Hollow) at a local Hollywood diner, which Bucky believes is visited by celebrities. After finding Bucky sleeping the bushes, Kathy gets him a roommate in her apartment complex (played by the hilarious Kevin Nealon), who morphs into Gary: The Roommate from Hell. Gary is as passive-aggressive as they get, and Nealon is given some of the best lines of the film (“I don’t sh*t where I shower!”).
After an interview for a commercial goes awry, Bucky is introduced (and summarily) insulted by porn star Dick Shadow (Stephen Dorff, Cecil B. DeMented), eventually landing him back at the diner and in front of a strung-out director (Don Johnson, Machette), who agrees to give Bucky his first big break. Unfortunately, no one bothered to vet Bucky’s manhood prior to the first shoot, and the whole endeavor is doomed to failure, until the blouse comes off, leading Bucky to pre-ejaculate all over the room. Bucky’s monkey-like screaming shame is posted on YouPube.net, which becomes an overnight sensation. “Every small d*ck out there’s been waiting for this!” realizes Johnson.
From there, Bucky is headed down the road to greatness, inspiring every man with a short beaver-banger to think they have it better than our hero, and eventually winning every prize at the Adult Film Awards in Las Vegas. He also wins Kathy’s heart, who decides to give Bucky her virginity but has no condoms to consummate her love. Instead, she melts the end of a VERY short straw and gives it to Bucky who proclaims “It fits!” (off-screen coitus supposedly ensues, which is strange that none was shown, given what IS shown in this film). But when a half-drugged Johnson (no pun intended) tells Kathy that Bucky will now start partaking in coitus on camera, she dumps him and moves out of the apartment complex. It’s up to Bucky to win back Kathy’s heart by whisking her off on a horse which he steals from his porn shoot. “I need that horse! He’s the star in another shoot I’m doing in Germany, Horsec*ck Island!” yells Ido Moserri (You Don’t Mess with the Zohan). It’s these hilarious one-liners from Nealon, Moserri, and others which provide important transitions within the story without getting in the way of the main thrust (no pun intended). Think Squeek Scolari from Baseketball or Great Gam Gam from Beerfest.
Video Quality – 3.5/5
To be nice, there are some serious transfer issues of the film to Blu-Ray. While it’s frankly amazing that I do not have actual issues with the story, my impression of the 1.85:1 aspect ratio is less than adequate. Bucky Larson features a 1080p/AVC-MPEG-4 that is sadly littered with errors involving outdoor shots and exterior lighting. Skies appear blotted out, and even indoor day-lit scenes bleed into the colors of window frames. Black shadows are also missing any detail. Yet, wrinkles on colored clothing, as well as skin pores and other exposed female parts are sharp, leading me to deduce that director Tom Brady meant for these errors to be present, although I can’t imagine why. There’s almost a haze associated with outdoor scenes, almost as if a filter was inserted into these scenes. The transfer is not without its high points: indoor scenes show off colors which are sharp and vibrant. Night scenes are clear, but those black shadows go immediately black. But it’s the ongoing problem of outdoor day scenes which hurts the overall effect.
Audio Quality – 4/5
If the video quality is an issue, Bucky Larson’s 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is not. Dialogue is very clear, and even the purposely cheesy 80’s music pumped in for effect is strong throughout the film. The surround track has its share of effects, but not enough to get in the way when Bucky shoots his loads. The overall effect is a track which gets the job done, stays out the way of the story, and clearly resonates the dialogue. A French track is also presented in 5.1 DTS-HD.
Supplements – 3.5/5
Another issue I had was the paltry extras, which are still funny and enlightening. I’m guessing their short length (no pun intended) was due to the terrible box office results, which means we were lucky to get anything at all. All the extras are in high-definition, which is definitely a nice feature; but it’s a mixed reaction for sure:
Laughter Is Contagious (1080p, 5:16): Deleted scenes
Behind The Teeth (1080p, 11:21): A fair background on several characters from the film
Gary: Tough Customer (1080p, 4:14): Funny interview with Kevin Nealon, who amuses Ricci between shoots
Bucky Sparkles (1080p, 2:29): A featurette showing various cuts of Swardson ‘expressing his affection’ during the shoots
The Bottom Line – 4/5
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star is so preposterous, so far-fetched in its premise, that it could never have been recognized as a mainstream film. Co-writer and producer Adam Sandler must have known this from the start, which makes one wonder why it was produced in the first place. But like most cult films, its enjoyment factor will be based entirely on your expectations. Have ZERO expectations (short of it not performing in your Blu-Ray player), ignore its moniker and box office performance, and the film can be hilarious and tawdry fun. Granted, it’s got story holes the size of a trophy girl’s rack, and it’s no Black Dynamite or Army of Darkness, but it’s definitely worth a rental. However, I can’t recommend it for purchase based on the squalid supplements and second-rate. I suspect its taboo subject will keep it from further pressings; so if owning cult film candidates is your thing, then be patient and hope it lands in the $5 bin at Walmart. You could do a lot worse: see The Love Guru.
Please Leave A Comment-
Comments