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Beerfest By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- The number of brain cells destroyed by the characters in "Beerfest" (Warner Bros.) is only surpassed by the number of brain cells wasted on watching it. Mindless and crude, the "plot" involves American brothers Todd and Jan Wolfhouse (Erik Stolhanske and Paul Soter), who, together with beer-guzzling friends Phil, Charlie and Barry (Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme and Jay Chandrasekhar, who also directs) travel to Germany to compete in an underground beer-drinking Olympics -- and redeem their grandmother's (Cloris Leachman in an embarrassing turn) reputation -- against a German team consisting of a rival branch of their family. Sitting through it was like wearing burlap lederhosen. One can only scratch one's head as to why Academy Award-winning Leachman -- along with respectable actors Juergen Prochnow and Donald Sutherland, who have cameos -- didn't say "nein." The level of comedic writing makes the "Cheech & Chong" movies seem like Moliere by comparison. But the insufferably adolescent premise is just a pole for the foulmouthed frat-house humor which is as irresponsible as it is vulgar and unfunny. The film opens with a tongue-in-cheek disclaimer counseling against attempting the drinking stunts at home, warning viewers, "You Will Die." That's not a laughing matter. An epilogue suggests a sequel -- "Potfest"-- may be in the works. Heaven help us! The film contains pervasive crass and sexual humor, lewd sight gags and innuendo, much reckless drinking, a couple of racy sex scenes with partial nudity, as well as some unrelated partial nudity, comic violence, some irreverent humor, a suicide, drug content, excessive rough and crude language and some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. - - - DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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