{2jtab: Movie Review}

While far from perfect, Brian Cunningham and Matt Niehoff’s Overtime isn’t the total loss that it easily could have been.  You’ve got a low-budget film starring former WWE superstar Al Snow and a cast of other unknowns battling an alien-virus that turns people into zombies.  What could go wrong?  Plenty.  And, yet, its humor – often sharp and, at times, very, very strange – rescues it time and time again from completely slipping into the avoid-this-at-all-costs muck of modern day action releases.

Everyone hates working on a Saturday - even dunderheaded hitmen with families of their own.  Hard-working Ralph (Snow), after changing into a clean white shirt, finds himself in the awkward situation of having to pull off an afternoon assassination with his partner Max (John Wells) on the day of his son’s birthday party.  Locked in an alien infested lab, Ralph must kill his target, secure a clown for the birthday party, and pick up some cake, all while battling a horde of alien-zombies that would like nothing better than to feast on his flesh.

Overtime is a labor of love for co-writers, co-producers and co-directors Cunningham and Niehoff.  The two also share in the shooting and editing of the film and give it a pulpy kind of digital sheen.  Tarantino this isn’t.  The seams just aren’t tight enough.  However, there’s enough to like about the movie that anyone suspecting this to be nothing more than an aimless vanity project can lay that thought to rest.  There are one too many dialogue tangents, head-spinning diversions (the YBox 720 riff is hysterically satirical and advertisements pop up twice during the movie), and completely gonzo moments (an alcoholic homeless man becomes a clown) of cinematic oddities.

But let’s put everything in perspective before you go running to the nearest Redbox.  Overtime isn’t a great film.  The acting – minus the chemistry between Snow and Wells – is thunderously cheeky and weak and, for some, will be a total turn off.  Dialogue, rather rudimentary, is handled in a hit and miss style when it isn’t completely out of its mind with comic madness and there are some action bits that are anything but attractive to adrenaline junkies.  Yet, Snow and Wells do have a great back-and-forth style between them and this, largely, makes up for any discomfort from the rest of the actors.

Overtime, presented by Oklahoma’s VCI Entertainment, proves that being called in to work on a Saturday can be dangerous to your health.  The tagline of “Guns.  Girls.  Aliens.  Zombies.  Cake!” says it all…and I do love cake.

{2jtab: Film Details}

MPAA Rating: This title has not been rated by the MPAA.
Runtime: 81 mins.
Director: Brian Cunningham, Matt Niehoff
Writer: Matt Niehoff, Brian Cunningham
Cast: Al Snow; John Wells; Sebrina Siegel; Cristina Mullins; James Tackett
Genre: Comedy | Sci-fi | Horror
Tagline: Guns.  Girls.  Aliens.  Zombies.  Cake!
Memorable Movie Quote: "That's peculiar."
Distributor: VCI Entertainment
Official Site: overtimethemovie.com
Release Date: No wide theatrical release
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: January 1, 2013

Synopsis: Raph (Al Snow) and Max (John Wells) only kill bad guys, and only after their boss Sam, a high-powered attorney, has cashed a nice paycheck for getting her sleazy clients off the hook.

When Sam sends our heroes on a routine hit, they find themselves caught up in a conspiracy they never imagined. But whatever trouble they’ve gotten themselves into is nothing compared to the wrath of Raph’s wife if he doesn’t make it home in time for his son’s birthday party.

Being a good hitman is tough; being a good dad is killer!

{2jtab: Blu-ray Review}

Component Grades Movie Blu-ray Disc Blu-ray Experience

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - January 11, 2011
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English
Audio: English: LPCM 5.1; English: LPCM 2.0
Discs: 25GB Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD); DVD copy
Region Encoding: A

Presented on blu-ray with an MPEG-2 encoded 1080p transfer, Overtime is an attractively engaging release.  Most of the time, it presents a sharp picture with eye-catching colors.  This is probably because it was digitally shot in native HD.  The outside locations shine the most and the interiors – dark and claustrophobic – suffer with lack of shadow depth and detail.  Flesh tones are solid.  Saturations are good throughout.  The uncompressed audio – presented in both 5.1 and 2.0 – is often overpowered by angry bass levels.  Dialogue is crisp and loaded in the front channels.  Overall, a good release from VCI Entertainment.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• There is an audio commentary with stars Al Snow and John Wells, and directors Brian Cunningham and Matt Niehoff.  This is a must listen for fans of the film and is as goofy and low-brow as its basement recording.

Special Features:

This release is presented as a two-disc set combo pack with a Blu-ray and DVD copy of the film.  There are some decent (but effortlessly short) special features included.  The first, Surviving Overtime, is a behind-the-scenes featurette with interviews from cast and crew. The second is essentially a music video for a band named The Villebillies.  A press promotional promo and trailer included.

• Surviving Overtime (21 min)
• Behind the Scenes (4 min)
• Press Promo (4 min)
• Trailer

{2jtab: Trailer}

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