Let’s Go to Prison, So We Do Not Have to Watch this Film

Some of you remember when I commented that I was lucky because it has been a long time since I viewed a bad film; well the time has come. If this film is the sign of things to come, prison sounds okay as long as I remember to clench in the shower. Now that my bashing is out of the way, this film is not very good. If you had the chance to see the trailer, then you saw many of the more humorous scenes. But Let’s Go to Prison has one thing going for it: it allows me to discuss the purpose of a well composed trailer.

I only wanted to watch this film because I thought the trailer was funny. Not funny ha-ha, but funny concept wise. One thing I have been accused of is having high hopes for a film and being let down, which was not exactly the case this time. I had no hopes for this film, so I went into with an open empty mind.

The film begins with a recap of the life of John Lyshitski (Dax Shepard) and how the judicial system made him the hardened criminal he became. It was all because of Judge Biederman (David Darlow). So once he leaves prison, he is dead set on making the Judge’s life hell as payback for making him a criminal. (Let me stop here and say that this premise has already lost something in my book. So a criminal blames the system, duh. Back to the plot.) John discovers the Judge has passed on; but his son, Nelson Biederman IV (Will Arnett), has not. As Nelson stumbles his way into prison, John seizes the opportunity to go back to prison to make his life hell. Hilarity almost ensues and we have a reversal of fortune mixed with a buddy film.

Here are my problems with the film. The characters are unlikable from beginning to end. Nelson is an ass and John is an ass. So, why should I really care what happens to either of them. Let me give that aspect the benefit of the doubt and say that the dark comedic aspects of the performances was lost. Once Nelson becomes “Evil Prison Hardened” Nelson, I actually was hoping the ending would involve both of the main characters shiving each other.

If the plot is lacking and the characters need developed, the last hope for a comedy is that it is funny. Let’s Go to Prison is only as funny as the trailer. Many of the more humorous aspects of the film were already revealed. Beyond that, the humor was predictable. Of course you are going to have shower jokes, they are in prison! When faced with this type of concept, the film has to go beyond the typical fair of prison humor to make something different and interesting. This film never made it to that level.

You may be asking if there are any redeeming qualities to this film? As far as this particular film, not really. I wold not recommend it or watch it again. I do have hope for the director Bob Odenkirk. I admit to watching Mr. Show and Tom Goes to the Mayor, for which he is a writer and performer. I think that the humor he provides can be hit or miss, but at least he tried to make a film that took that humor and translated it to the big screen. I will watch the next film he directs, because he has potential if he can hit the humor right. Come on Bob, give me some hope that you are not David Cross’s bitch that you can work without David Cross.