MONSTERS, MARRIAGE AND MURDER IN MANCHVEGAS (2009)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
The small town in this film is Manchvegas, or more appropriately to the rest of you, Manchester, New Hampshire. Three members of an entrepreneurial group known as M.O.S. (Manchvegas Outlaw Society) deliver newspapers, hot dogs, books, lemonade and poppy Beach-Boys- sounding CD's from their own band around town. They also solve some petty crimes such as finding the kids who are stealing the delivered newspapers. Of course, M.O.S. mostly spend time at a nearby lake engaging in lots of tomfoolery and "summertime fun," including throwing water balloons at each other. The leader of M.O.S. is Marshall (Matt Farley), who pines for the affections of Jenny (Marie Dellicker), another member of the group (would a blonde adult really hang out with such a group?). There is also All-Star Pete (Thomas Scalzo) and he mostly plays basketball and sets up surveillance on Jenny's dates so that Marshall can scare them off. Can't really blame Jenny for seeking other men since Marshall suffers from maximum arrested development.
A murdered bride-to-be is found and M.O.S. decides to solve the murder (their credentials don't extend beyond stolen newspapers). Another bride-to-be, a product of finishing school known as Melinda (Sharon Scalzo), is missing after she was last seen skinny-dipping but who is the killer? Is it the local grocer who became her fiance? And what are those strange, mythical forest beasts, known as Gospercaps, who speak in an indiscernible language? Are they harmless or are they murderous?
I will say that "Monsters, Marriage and Murder in Manchvegas" is an original treat for anyone who loves cheesy, low-budget B-movies, especially those that are still shot on film. Though some of the actors, such as police chief Delvecchio (James McHugh, who is clearly reading his lines rather than speaking them) or Melinda's dad (Kevin McGee, whom Farley has described as their Bela Lugosi), don't give spellbinding performances, Matt Farley, however, gives it his all - he has presence in those arched eyebrows and slight squeaky voice (he was genuinely creepy in his last outing, "Freaky Farley"). He clearly gives the best performance in the film and the sweet little love story with Jenny adds a layer of true innocence to the proceedings. You can tell these guys had fun making a cheerful, unpretentious film that nearly everyone might have a hard time disliking. But it is also that small-town innocence that gives the movie an added touch of nostalgia.
Farley and Roxburgh have to work on ironing out their repertory of actors but they have ideas and combine humor, nostalgia and a good sense of time and place, not to mention a witty, engaging script with three solid lead actors (will someone please give these guys a bigger budget?) I cannot wait to see what they cook up next.
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