“Trigger Happy” is a bloody-minded dark comedy that at least managed to get the “dark” right.
A stumbling misfire of a satire packed with repellent characters and rarely creative means of murder, it misses on most every level that matters. And while no cast could likely bring this to life, this one doesn’t exactly decorate their resumes with their work in this clunker.
Tyler Poelle plays George, a debt-riddled doofus in a dead marriage and a dead-end job — waiting tables for a bully (Caitlin Duffy) who inherited her mom’s diner.
Wife Annie (Elsha Kim) is an aspiring actress whose aspirations seem limited to landing an info-mercial. Even when she lands one, she’s not contributing. It’s “non-union,” non-paying.
“I get paid in EXPERIENCE!”
At least George has a job. Mikey (Matt Lowe) is unemployed, throwing himself into making and eating pies and growing less attractive by the minute to his hot school principal wife Gemma (Christina Kirkman), who is A) Annie’s bestie and B) cheating with the “hot skiy diving instructor” Tye (Kevin Kreider).
In this alternate universe where the Department of Gun Ubiquity ensures firearms are everywhere, and “required” to get things like health insurance, George sees two ways out. One, he can win the lottery, which he plays religiously. Or two, he can kill his wife, collect the insurance and escape to the Bahamas.
George isn’t creative at all when it comes to ways to unload Annie. He isn’t even all that good at hiding his intentions or frame of mind.
“I have never felt more ‘hinged,'” should convince no one.
About the only shock laugh in director/co-writer Tiffany Kim Stevens’ “romp” comes when a monstrous, dart-gun wielding tween gets what she has coming to her.
The script is minimalist dreck, telegraphing its limited supply of “moves” and botching murders, attempts at murder and fantasizing about murder.
No turn of events or twisted character connects, clicks or delivers anything funny or that even justifies sticking around for the end.
Rating: violence, sex
Cast: Tyler Poelle, Elsha Kim, Christina Kirkman, Caitlin Duffy, Matt Lowe, Kevin Kreider and Tre Hall
Credits: Directed by Tiffany Kim Stevens, scripted by Daniel Moya and Tiffany Kim Stevens. A Gravitas Ventures release.
Running time: 1:26
Movie Nation 
I saw this by accident and liked it. Did you watch the whole thing? I usually agree with you but you’re off base here in my opinion. You seem to be wanting this to be something it isn’t, and that is not the job of a critic… but maybe you’re just a reviewer, in which case more power to you!
If by ‘wanting this to be something it isn’t” you mean “good,” you’re on the money. A critic writes for the artist, a reviewer writes for the audience. Most reviews blur that line. There, you learned something today. Two somethings.