Customer Reviews

Taking Chances

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When I had heard that the guy who does the "Hi, I'm a Mac" t.v. commercial was in this film, my interest was piqued. Didn't know who the other actors were.... didn't matter: the story, a variation on the David vs Goliath theme, was compelling. It is unfortunate that the cover art of the DVD gives the impression of this being a teenage romantic comedy. The movie itself belies that image - it's a complex, textured story about good and evil, innocence and knowing, honesty and deceit. My only criticism: perhaps the movie tries to take on too many deep contradictions. Even so, "Taking Chances" is worth watching.

I bought this film because I think Justin Long is funny and I thought it looked like a cute love story. Now, I was reticent because I thought the cover is cheesy, but I decided to get it anyway. It was so much better than I imagined! And it wasn't just a love story, more of a coming of age film about a young guy who is trying to figure out his place in his town and therefore the world. I laughed out loud, which I rarely do, and I was also really touched by it. It's quite witty, not big slapstick humor. I also thought it captured the current political climate of main street economic struggles and the corruption of government and big business. I strongly recommend it. Pleasant surprise!
Taking Chances

While I have no shame in admitting that Justin Long is probably the longest crush I've suffered thus far, his latest vehicle TAKING CHANCES (2009) is a bit of a disappointing film to review. Political satire is not easy, yet it is even harder to evaluate. Just ask Michael Moore.

Set in "Patriotville", South Carolina, TAKING CHANCES is about exactly that: taking a chance on better prospects. Director Talmage Cooley handles this fairly well, for his third-time outing.

The film, hinging around a poor, small, broken South Carolingian town getting an Indian casino, is full of that rare repartee that is witty, near-slapstick (and often ad-lib) that makes these films such a treat. THE SASQUATCH GANG, another of Long's starring roles, came to mind as I watched this. Some knee-slapping, biting back-and-forth brought to mind some of the ridiculous political fart gas that is going around the nation now, without beating it to death. Very well done.

Here, Long plays Chase Revere, presumably a descendant of Paul Revere's and very proud of the history of his town and the "Revolutionary battle" that took place there. According to Chase--who is docent at the local historical museum--the British captured the town but the winter was so harsh that they all agreed to merely pretend the British were holding them captive. They developed a cooperative community and after the war the British simply settled there. Silly, but rather affecting. A real lesson in the lack of America's historical knowledge.

Into Patriotville comes a group of Algonquians, looking for some choice real estate to build the casino. The greedy mayor, sheriff and others concoct a plan to get the Indians to sign a certain legal document that would make the casino belong to the town--without having to pay them the million dollars they have demanded. These guys are so hilarious I would think it's obvious...but I won't spoil it. Add to this mix a fishy Bureau of Indian Affairs agent and you've got...well, a history's mystery!

Much of what I enjoyed of this film visually has to do with the setting, which is (I assume) a lovely little run-down hamlet in South Carolina. Not having time to check if Patriotville is a real place (I doubt that), I just pretended that it was real. Mostly I had fun looking at the beautiful Justin Long and his equally appealing best friend Digger Morris (Aussie-born Keir O'Donnell).

The only deep disappointment I felt about this film was the end. It sort of sagged out very rapidly, and then it was over--not what I expected. Rather pessimistic and humorless, as if everyone had better things to do before finishing this film correctly. A few confusing problems with continuity also ruined what I think might have become a cult classic.

I hadn't heard of this movie before today; I saw it on cable and was excited to see Justin again. Thus we stumble on these rough little gems, but I have to ask myself, Why bother if no one will see it?

Judging from the cover and description on the back of the box, I expected this to be a cotton candy film (heavy on the sweetness yet lacking in substance). I was surprised to find it actually had a much more interesting storyline. It really isn't the romantic comedy the marketing people billed it to be. It is, however, a commentary on some of the less desirable aspects of our society pleasantly wrapped in a quirky sense of humor.

This movie is not what I thought it was going to be - and am I ever glad. One week later and certain parts and scenes are still going through my mind. Maybe it was just coincidence, but the movie was released at a time when the backdrop of the story: the setting of a town in economic downturn, the political powers that be desperate to do something, anything, to reinvigorate the community, but at the high cost of selling out the very thing that makes the place unique; the young "ingenue" who lives a secret life --all could be plucked out of the headlines of the evening news. This movie turned out to be as darkly comedic and as incisive as a Coen Brothers' film, but so much more stealthy. Some issues and characters aren't what they seem, and some are so obvious as to seem caricatures. Themes:politics, political correctness, political corruption; and then: yearning, shades of desperation, and hope and idealism, peppered with irony and not a little comedy. This is cultural commentary, a uniquely American story, masquerading as a young adult romantic comedy. Check it out...

Watching this movie was painful. Here we are watching a movie with good actors (Long and Chriqui are very much under appreciated) and a very good premise that could have been a wonderful story. Many of the plot elements- if smoothly assembled with good dialogue- would have worked very well. I have to wonder if this movie was not a victim of the writer's strike. Because it was painfully obvious that the good ideas were badly executed. It was like Gallipoli- a great idea ruined in execution. There are flashes - moment s when you get to see how good this could have been, but only the whole the movie was done like patchwork sloppily put together. It also seemed like the writers and director could never make their mind up as to what kind of movie they were making: Is it a love story- in the end, not really. Social commentary? on what? The gullibility of struggling small town people? That is more like stereotyping for a cheap effect. The impression I got was that the filmmakers here were simply too lazy to do it right. I was very disappointed in this film.

The movie started out really well and I thought it was funny and interesting for the first hour or so. Then it just took a set of turns and spins that made the movie rather irrelevant.

SPOILER WARNING*** His fight against what was coming was totally ridiculous and plain stupid. Justin Long's character's idea to "save" the town by thinking he could create a tourist attraction was discredited by himself at the end anyway. So the town was taken in by a bunch of con people, yeah so what? They were doing what they thought would save their town, their town was going down the drain if they had done nothing. It would make it seem that the town council were the only people hurt by the greed shown. That entire town died but of course we drive away with the main character and aren't there to see that part.

There was no romantic or anything of real value to learn from their relationship either. It leaves it with her having a piece of paper that directs her to where her father might be. Oookay, again so what?

Too many loose ends and the moral of the story is??? The funny stuff at the end was??? Exactly.

funny, i was 'taking chances' on the film when i rented it because i liked the liner notes. happily it paid off! i loved this movie and am now purchasing it. first, i am AMAZED at how relevant the film is to much that is going on in our country right now, and wonder how the film-makers foresaw so much that has actually happened-the loss of jobs and prosperity-outrageous monetary scheming and get rich quick mentalities bringing a town to possible ruin. justin long and emmanuelle chriqui have a chemistry that keeps the plot genuinely engaging and dramatic-both a romance and a meditation on values, legacy and the lost 'american dream.' but not to fret, there are plenty of belly laughs provided by the entire cast-most particulary rob corddry as the conniving mayor who would sell his children to bring the indian casino to their town.

This is not a romantic comedy as advertised. Even so, it never made me laugh for even a second. The only reason that made me watch this movie is due to the 4.5 stars rating. Now, I know that I really cannot rely very much on movie reviews. Anyway, every individual has his own taste. Its not romantic nor it is a comedy.

I bought "Taking Chances" $14.96 just because the Beautiful Emmanuelle Chriqui was on the Dvd cover. Also the guy (Justin Long) from "Dodge Ball " and all of those Mac vs. Pc commercials is in it. All in all the movie is not bad,its just not very good. Chase Revere =Justin Long, is a History Buff running the town of Patriotville's museum . Other than a group of Grey Haired ladies and his goofy friend Digger, no one seems to visit. One night when Chase is going home her runs into Lucy Spanks = Emmanuelle C. giving her a bicycle ride( after she torches her deadbeat fathers car) . Even though the town is dying, Chase is ready to present his idea of expanding the Museum and get tourist dollars. The Mayor shuts him down and has a better idea. The Alguanqua Indians want to build a Casino in Patriotville ...or the town of Sulfur Falls, whoever gives the best bribe . It ends up Lucy is not the Virgin that Digger said she was. Lucy likes older men. Her and the Mayor carry on/ do you see E.C. naked? NO! When the Mayor + bigwigs are discussing their juggling funds for the bribe the mayors wife tapes the conversation. She goes to Lucy and tells her give it to Chase. In his fathers Hotel Lucy & Chase listen to the tape. Chase gathers the town expecting Lucy with the evidence any minute and expose the corruption. Nope. Lucy meets the mayor and in return for the tape reveals her fathers location. It could have been a good movie but the writers failed to pick a direction of comedy, romance or caper . It travels about as fast as Chase on his bicycle.It is in my collection but I can not recomend it.