Sneak Peek Review- “Hobo With A Shotgun”

Movie Review by Matthew Schuchman- Four out of Five ‘Staches.

Even in the middle of watching “Hobo With A Shotgun” I thought to myself, “How can I even begin to try to rate a film like this, even if I enjoyed the whole thing?”  This morning however, the more I thought about the movie, the more I smiled and laughed again.  My original intention was to not rank it at all and just talk about it, but I can no longer hold back, “Hobo With A Shotgun” is a master stroke and does everything right that “Machete” missed on.

It all started as a Youtube contest. Participants were asked to make a trailer that would be added to the theatrical release of Tarantino and Rodriguez’s “Grindhouse.”  The original trailer was not attached to every print and showed mostly in Canada, where its creator hails from, but the trailer was still a big hit on Youtube.  I remember my brother showed me the trailer on Youtube and while I enjoyed it; I am ten times more thrilled with the result that has come of it. Rutger Hauer is the hobo.  He arrives via freight train to a new town on his travels to raise money to buy a lawnmower. The problem is, he just landed in the most corrupt town in the world.  After one night, he decides after all that he has seen, it is time he cleans up the streets that he once made dirty.

“Hobo With A Shotgun” is a gore filled laugh fest that gets its strong points by knowing it should never take itself seriously. The problem I had with “Machete” was that at times it came off too clean and polished and played too much to the political side of the joke. While “Hobo With A Shotgun” still follows that idea of the political exploitation film, it knew not to ride the line too close.  “Machete” mainly got its laughs from bad one liners; “Hobo With A Shotgun” is one long joke that never lets down the laughs.  The heights of ridiculous events that take place in the movie have no bounds.  And I am not just talking about the out of whack unbelievable situations and over the top violence. The dialogue is some of the most brilliant cheese to ever be written.  It is an art form to write such nonsense but have it come off as obviously intentional and utterly fabulous.  I would do injustice to anyone who wants to see the film by trying to explain the “inspirational” speech that the hobo delivers to his new friend Abby (the hooker that lets him stay at her place for saving her life)but it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life.  I had a hard time breathing at that point as I was laughing so much.  However, I can let you in on what I think was the best one liner in the film.  After Abby cuts his face with some glass, Slick (one of the main villains in the film) retorts, “I’m gonna wash this blood off my face…with your blood!”  It doesn’t look as good written out, but when it is delivered in an explosion of glorious overacting, you will die of laughter.

The other major piece this film has going for it, is Rutger Hauer. The devotion of this man to jump into this role, whole heartedly probably is what makes this a four star film. If this was done with an unknown or an overtly popular mainstream actor who is really not that talented, things would probably be different.  To be honest, through the beginning of the film I did think to myself that maybe he was really only doing this for the pay-day and the ease of just being able to breeze through a film where you are meant to be corny.  But when a gurney comes bursting through the doors rushed by two doctors with Hauer straddled on top of it holding his shotgun, yelling at the doctor’s to save Abby’s life as she lies bleeding on the gurney, I wanted to kneel and thank god for Rutger Hauer.   To top it off as well, he then grabs a bottle of vodka from a man in the hospital hallway, starts pouring it on Abby’s wounds and then chugs a bit for himself; the rank of extravagant glory had been achieved.

“Hobo With A Shotgun” is an experience that must be had by all.  If you don’t like violence or gore, stay away. Also if you love children and never want to see anything bad happen to one, definitely be prepared before you walk in. If you can deal with it though, make sure you see this film when it is released this May. Till then, don’t ask me too much more about it, because if I tell you all about Drake, Slick, Ivan and the Plague, I will give away too much joy that you have to experience for yourself.

Here is the original trailer that was made for the contest:

And here is the trailer for your 2011 release:

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