God Bless America (2011)

God Bless America (R) - Review

 "PULL!"

A man is fed up with what he sees as the degredation of the American psyche.  Cell phones, reality shows and political correctness conspire to ruin his life.  Lost his job, diagnosed with terminal cancer and estranged from his family, he decides to end society or himself, whichever falls first.

Director/comedian Bobcat Goldthwait has delved into the black recesses of humor lately, and nothing is blacker than Frank's (played with devlish everyman charm by Joel Murray) opening revenge fantasy of quieting a neighbors screaming baby with a shotgun.  Unfortunately the rest of the movie can't match the WTF of the opening, teetering into "Death To Smoochy" TV popculture hate and "Kick Ass" little killer girl sidekicks.  Michael Douglas in Falling Down (1993) is still the ultimate death of the American male culture film, and Frank is just a little too old fashioned and miserable to fill those shoes.  When he attempts to flambe a teenage reality star by handcuffing her to her Lexus, Frank isn't exactly the loveable misunderstood scamp being forced into violence, he is instead the psychopathic lone shooter with nothing to lose, willing to take down anyone in our democracy who doesn't signal when making a turn or chews gum with their mouths open.  There's a couple of chuckles underneath all the mayhem, but mostly makes us thank god for gun control.

5.5 Bonnie and Clyde Endings out of 10 (MEDIOCRE)