Studio: Sony Pictures
Release Date: 8/15/2023
Rating: R
Film Grade: C+
The Story: Comedian Bert Kreischer, also known as The Machine, is having a minor family crisis. As he puts his social media presence on hold for therapy sessions, his past catches up to him. It seems he got his nickname from his college days, where he spent time hanging with a Russian gang, even participating in a train robbery.
His act has caught the attention of someone seeking one of stolen items, and he and his father are quickly coerced into taking a trip to Russia to recover it in this true story. Well, kind of true, anyway.
My Take: I didn’t know who The Machine was before seeing this movie, but I was intrigued by the offbeat nature of it, and curious to see Mark Hamill back on the big screen. He and Kreischer have a fun chemistry, playing well off of each other, even if Mark can’t resist putting the “ham” in Hamill. The entire cast looks like they had a blast filming this movie.
Many of them are from Serbia, where the film was shot. Their presence helps add a layer of authenticity to the various antics. Jimmy Tatro was the one actor that didn’t work for me, playing the younger version of Kreischer in the many flashbacks. His voice is somehow deeper than the present-day character, and just doesn’t fit the role.
As directed by Peter Atencio, the plot often has the feel of a TV show, even though it’s filled with surprisingly good production values considering its modest $20M budget. The wide variety of sets are well-dressed, adding to the authentic feel of the environments. There is a good bit of fight choreography, which is a mixed bag, some looking really sharp, and others. . . well let’s just say Kreischer won’t be participating in any martial arts competitions.
As a comedy, there are some absolutely hilarious parts mixed in with the more obvious slapstick stuff. Some is really dark, and others are shockingly gross, but there’s also some solid character-driven humor to add a little bit of balance.
At 112 minutes, it’s about 20 minutes too long, and would have benefited with some tighter editing. Parts of the film move along nicely, but there are other spots that drag on too long, which just ends up dulling the comedy.
It’s not all funny stuff, though. One of the major themes of the movie is family and the relationships shown offer a variety of contrasting examples. By the end, Kreischer has learned some lessons, mostly of the obvious type. All of that is fine, since this is primarily a comedy, but it does weight down the script more than it needs to. This is a recent trend in action movies, and feels forced.
Video: Eigil Bryld’s cinematography really stands out in this release. There are scenes that will remind you of the neon-style pop of the John Wick movies. Outdoor shots are crisp, clear, and bright, while interiors vary by environment. Dark shots are never muddy, and there are examples of striking contrast throughout.
There are some really clever transitions between flashbacks and the present day, which is unusual for a small film like this. And even the end credits show some innovation, with names being flat while their job titles are presented in perspective, shifting angles as they move from bottom to top.
This is another fine example of how good a Blu-ray can look these days, and it’s where the movie goes from C to C+ for me.
Audio: The disc features a 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack. There are scenes with satisfying bass that will get your attention. Some of the music will remind you of what you’re used to hearing in every John Wick film, but the musical score fits the movie really well, and features a haunting lyricism.
The rest of the movie’s sound is fine, but nothing is really noteworthy. In contrast to some of the fresh visual stylings, the audio is just standard, with clear dialog throughout.
Special Features: - Bert’s Big Bash – Premiere Party
- Bert, Bruised & Brawlin’: The Action of The Machine
- Outtakes & Bloopers
- Deleted Scenes
- The Making of The Machine
- The Cast of The Machine
Final Verdict: As an action/comedy the film hits more than it misses. If you enjoyed The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, this movie is similar in tone. Some may find the alcohol and drug use and crude jokes off-putting, but that’s part of Kreischer’s act, making it inseparable from the film.
I found myself frequently amused and laughing out loud, even if this isn’t one of my favored genres. It’s goofy, yet seriously violent in spots, and worth giving it a watch when you’re in the mood for something with those qualities. And if you’re a fan of Bert Kreischer, check out the bonus material.
Fun Quote: Did I do that?
The only trailer I could find is the red band version, so
BE WARNED, THIS TRAILER CONTAINS LANGUAGE SOME MIGHT FIND OFFENSIVE. (Don’t watch at work.)
My Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup
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