Great Film: Knockaround Guys
Can A Mafia Story Be Funny? Yes
This is another of those films I thought was great the first time,
so-so on the second. Overall, it got high marks - at least on the first
viewing - because it's an entertaining film that doesn't overstay its
welcome at 92 minutes.
Four young guys get involved in their first Mafia-type adventure. One
is asked to do a simple job of picking up a bag of money out west and
bringing it back home to Brooklyn. However, troubles ensue big-time
when the bag is stolen at the little airport out West. His three
friends have to come out and help him get the money back and all kinds
of problems develop.
There is some black humor in here which helps spice up the film, which
then turns very serious about halfway through with a few shocking
twists near the end.
There are two famous veteran actors in here - Dennis Hopper and John
Malkovich - and four young ones who becoming better known these days as
well: Seth Green, Vin Diesel, Barry Pepper and Andrew Davoli.
The only problem I had with the movie is Pepper, who played Roger
Maris, the famous baseball player in the film '61." He looks so much
like Maris that I can't believe him as anyone else! To us baseball
fans, Pepper will always be Maris and nobody else.
Cast
- Matty Demaret played by Barry Pepper
- Taylor Reese played by Vin Diesel
- Teddy Deserve played by John Malkovich
- Sheriff Decker played by Tom Noonan
- Chris Scarpa played by Andy Davoli
- Johnny Marbles played by Seth Green
- Billy Clueless played by Arthur J. Nascarella
