Let's Go to Prison (2006)

Really Surprised!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

... but WHY do I feel guilty? Maybe it is because such terrible things go on behind bars - rape, gangs that dish out death based on race, bad food, corrupt guards, etc. and all of that is treated comically in this film. BUT, really nothing that you would expect given the set up of the film actually happens to the degree that it could, and in the end it turns out to have some very clever twists. It is just not all stupidity and it is very non-violent considering what could happen.The setup is that a career non-violent criminal, John Lyshitski (Dax Shepard) is constantly getting caught and sent to prison by Judge Nelson Biedermann. But Lyshitski blames all of his incarcerations on the judge, not on his own bad choices, and he spends so much time in prison he knows everybody by name. So John decides to carry out a plan of revenge on the judge, except the judge dies right before he gets out of jail. So John changes his plan to avenge himself on the dead judge's son, Nelson Biedermann IV, by tampering with his inhaler and making him temporarily high. In this state Ned trashes a store and attacks the store owners, all caught on the store security camera. Did I mention that Ned IV is an insufferable preppy jerk? So Ned demands that the Biedermann foundation help get him out, BUT the foundation decides they would like to be rid of this stupid jerk and defend him themselves and throw the case. Ned goes to prison for 3-5 years.Meanwhile, John is not feeling the glee he thought he would at Ned going to prison. After all, he figures, he won't be there to see Ned get what is certainly going to be coming to a soft preppy rich kid with no street smarts. So this time, John gets caught on purpose, gets sent to prison for 3-5 just like Ned, and manages his prison connections so he is Ned's cellmate. At first things go like you think they would, but then a twist of fate for both Ned and John change things in a way that was inconceivable to John when he started this whole thing. From there you will have to watch yourself and find out what happens. If you have a distaste for violence, don't worry, this is not Shawshank Redemption on any possible level.Oh, and kudos to Chi McBride who becomes the unlikely means for Ned to give the foundation that dumped him their comeuppance. This film is probably a 6.5 as a comedy, but I rounded it up to 7 for originality, especially during the last half.

Would love to see any of the critics who panned this film do better with a budget of $4 million. Hilarious script, fantastic acting and strong direction. One of the funniest comedies you haven't seen. This is in fact the funniest prison comedy since "I Love You Phillip Morris". Funnier than Stallone's "Lock Up", although I'm not sure that one was supposed to be a comedy.

When a career criminal's plan for revenge is thwarted by unlikely circumstances, he puts his intended victim's son in his place by putting him in prison... and then joining him.I remember when this film came out (2006) and it looked mildly funny but seems to have fell off the radar. Now (2016) I finally gave it a shot. It's not hilarious, but has its moments and definitely is one of a kind. Other than "Half Baked", I can't think of another prison comedy that compares.What really makes this interesting is how big Will Arnett has become. At the time, I'm sure he was known for "Arrested Development", but he has really blown up with "Lego Batman", "Bojack Horseman", "Flaked" and more... seeing him in this role is a treat.

Chi McBride steals the show in this one, but credit must go, too, to the writers and the director: LET'S GO TO PRISON takes us boldly where no behind-bars bromance has ever taken us before- and does so hilariously. The frank, matter-of-fact acceptance of the hero/victim of his own plight when he is framed speaks volumes; it's almost as if it's a given that all Big Business higher-ups are corrupt (and the only real difference is the small matter of degree). Once behind bars, he takes to his new situation readily enough and it's here that LET'S GO TO PRISON ventures into heretofore uncharted territory. The budding bromance with Chi McBride is fun to watch- and the movie never once backtracks or tries to talk its way out of it: it's an accepted part of life behind bars (though it's seldom mentioned, except in SCARED STRAIGHT situations) (and you thought punks wearing their pants at half-mast do so because they're emulating men behind bars who have no belts...)... LET'S GO TO PRISON never punks out.