(1999)
3
Buzz McClain
Just about any film, large or small, starring the quirkily charismatic Steve Zahn has to be looked at as a star vehicle showcasing his undeniably compelling onscreen qualities. A natural and gifted comic, Zahn has stolen scenes in Out of Sight, Happy, Texas, and You've Got Mail, among others. This low-budget independent film, sandwiched between Happy, Texas and Forces of Nature (with Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck), capitalizes on the slacker persona perfected in Out of Sight, only this time he's not quite so hapless. Instead he's rude, crude, and horny. And high. Always high. Josh Hamilton, so effective as the overwhelmed brother in The House of Yes, plays the numbed suburban David with such low energy that he nearly drains the life from the film. Not that much happens -- the film is without epiphany or climax -- nor is it intended to be otherwise: like a latter-day Dazed and Confused, the dialogue is supposed to capture the post-teen angst of the moment, presenting a snapshot of a disenfranchised segment of contemporary society. It succeeds at that, but viewers want to give the characters some free advice: Get a life.
Blowin' Smoke on AllMovie
Blowin' Smoke (1999)
