You crowd source your funding to get your idea for a comedy about wrestling, obsessive fans and the midlife crisis none of us want to face filmed.
You talk Paula Adbul, Eddie Griffin and “Star Trek” alumnus Walter Koenig in it to add “names” to its appeal.
You premiere the finished film at fanboy central — the SXSW film, music and media festival in the Free State of Austin.
And it turns out the way “Raging Midlife” turned out and you’re never seen or heard from again.
This deathly unfunny farce is about a tank top t-shirt tossed to two pals at a pro wreslting event back in ’88, one that was snatched from them at their moment of triumph.
Here is it “40 years” later (one admits) or “thirty years” another lies. And Alex (Nic Costa) and Mark (Matt Zak) are still determined to have that Rage O Mania tank top that Ragin’ Abraham Lincoln (Motch O Mann) hurled their way as he transitioned from role model of the ring to villain of the circuit.
It’s what Mary Todd (Get it?), Ragin’ Abraham’s wife (Paula Adbul) wanted, right?
This ill-conceived, poorly-organized and shambolic comedy has the odd amusing character and performance. Emily Sweet brings a foaming-at-the-mouth fury to Mindy, the older sister who sabotaged brother Alex’s big moment, way back when, someone who’s hellbent on repeating that now. And Motch O Mann, a wrestler Randy Savage impersonator, also hits the right tone. Co-star Zak flails and sputters to get the energy up to generate a laugh.
“Time, you little slut!…I want my 40 years back!”
But collectively they’re no compensation for putting charisma-starved co-stars and co-writers Costa and Rob Taylor (he also directed) on the screen in roles that needed serious workshopping before this ever went before a camera.
Wrestling, the wrestling underworld and the sorts of folks obsessed with it was a promising setting. The premise feels familiar enough to have worked, in some form.
Not this one, though. Kids, I want my 93 minutes back.
Rating: unrated, (comic) bloody violence, profanity
Cast: Nic Costa, Matt Zak, Bryna Smith, Rob Taylor, Eddie Griffin, Emily Sweet, Walter Koenig, Motch O Mann and Paula Abdul.
Credits: Directed by Rob Taylor, scripted by Nic Costa and Rob Taylor. A Level 33 release.
Running time: 1:33
