Made (2001)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

I'll tell you why so serious

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

The basic arc of the story had some good elements to it. I enjoyed the exposition and build up. But I was going out of my mind watching Vince Vaughn's character steal the story. 2/3 of the movie is him being extremely annoying. After 10-15 minutes of it I was ready for something else.

Five years after lightning struck for Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn with the surprise hit SWINGERS, they attempted to re-capture that magic by playing more or less the same characters with the same antagonistic friendship in MADE. Except that instead of a simple, let's-go-to-Vegas buddy comedy, MADE takes the intriguing form of a mob comedy.Mob comedies often don't work, a fact that is amusingly referenced here (when on a plane to New York and told by the flight attendant that the in-flight movie is the awful MICKEY BLUE EYES, Vaughn sneers in disgust). But this one is actually pretty awesome.Favreau (who also directs, as he did with SWINGERS) plays Bobby, a bouncer who can't help punching out the clients that touch his stripper girlfriend (Famke Janssen). Vaughn is his best friend Ricky, and exactly the same kind of hilariously petulant asshole he was in SWINGERS, except even more obnoxious. In order to pay back the losses they've caused their Jewish mobster boss (a great Peter Falk), they are sent on a mysterious "job" in New York.Tonally, the film is a bit of a mess, but back in 2001 I really dug the way it whiplashes between light comedy, dark comedy, surprisingly poignant drama, and actual suspense, and I still do.The supporting cast is also great. In addition to the aforementioned Falk and Janssen, there is Sam Rockwell as a bellboy, Vincent Pastore and Drea De Matteo from THE SOPRANOS, Faizon Love, Jennifer Esposito, Bud Cort, and most interestingly, a convincingly intimidating Sean "Puffy" Combs as Falk's New York business partner, Ruiz. Oh yeah, and there's a cameo by Dustin (Screech from SAVED BY THE BELL) Diamond as himself that is pretty much the funniest part of the whole movie.Despite all the other elements, what it really comes down to is the comedic chops of Favreau and Vaughn.

Trying to catch lightning in a bottle once is hard enough, twice is darned near impossible. I liked "Swingers", I thought the balance was pretty good and that made Vince Vaughan effective in his annoyance. "Made" is not as well balanced with Vaughan. It is true you wouldn't have much of a story without his character (a gold medal screw up) but then in order to get the story you have to suffer through a thoroughly overdone taste of Vaughn's idiotic character.I gave 3 stars because there are cast members that redeem parts of this movie and make it thoroughly enjoyable. Peter Falk does a fantastic turn as the lower level crime boss, and even give Vaughn the slightest taste of what I should expect most of the audience would like to give him...short of some violent and brutal death within the first third of the movie. Famke's 'stripper girlfriend' yes is a stereotype portrayed, but she does it awfully well. Special bonus points for getting Michael O'hara to show up in this.And I am sure if you actually like Vaughn's annoying frenzy combined with a humongous yet very fragile ego, then you'll absolutely enjoy this movie.

"Made" is nothing special. If it were graded as a separate film it would probably have gotten better reviews. However, because it draws immediate comparisons to the hit indie film "Swingers" from 1996, the general consensus drops even lower.However, those comparing the two are missing the point of "Made." It's a separate film. It's not a sequel. Sure, there are a few self-referential moments (such as the scene in the hotel room when Vaughn brings back the girls and is going into the next room and leaves Favreau by himself, awkwardly, with Drea DeMatteo, which is an exact retreat of a scene from the other film) but overall it has an entirely different tone. It's darker, bleaker, less funny and a bit meaner. It's violent, and is about the Mafia, so whatever you think of "Swingers" - abandon your opinions at the door and take this in as a different film. Judge it as it is and not for what it could have been. Because although this isn't a great film it IS different than "Swingers" for the most part, and director Favreau goes for an entirely different approach, which is a good thing in my opinion.The performances are still good - Vaughn doing his crazy-guy routine and Favreau playing the put-upon good guy with a heart of gold.Overall, perhaps not worth a purchase, but maybe a rental.