# That Darn Punk (2001) (V)

### reviewed by
Christopher Null

                                 THAT DARN PUNK
                        A film review by Christopher Null
                          Copyright 2001 filmcritic.com
                                 filmcritic.com

This unapologetic indie certainly feels like a festival-circuit entry. Alas, no -- Kung Fu Films has poured its $21,000 into That Darn Punk with intent to make a profit. Hence, it's straight to video and a big soundtrack release.

Foolish? Hardly. According to the press notes, soundtrack preorders have covered the cost of production fourfold. Now that's a business plan!

It's no surprise the soundtrack is inspiring some enthusiasm. Scored by The Ataris, Nerf Herder, Rancid, AFI, No Motiv, Lagwagon, The Vandals, and a half-dozen other punkish outfits, That Darn Punk is indeed an ode to, well, punk. And its star, Joe Escalante, just so happens to be the bassist for The Vandals.

So what's it all about? Oh, the plot. Yeah. Well, Escalante plays a punk rocker in a Vandals-like band called The Big Tippers, and after an ill-advised near-fling with a music video moll, his girlfriend kicks him out in nothing but his boxers, he is abducted and taken to the desert, and a series of wacky hijinks involving murder, drugs, and aliens occurs -- all so unlikely that you'll be drawing comparisons to Ed Wood flicks.

It's not a bad comparison to make. That Darn Punk is goofy fun with basement-level production values a la Repo Man. Is it a witty ride through existentialism? No. Is it something you might want to put on at a party if for no other reason than to hear the kickin' soundtrack and hope that your drunken guests will get a laugh out of the video?

    Ah, perfect.

    RATING:  **1/2

    |------------------------------|
     \ ***** Perfection             \
      \ **** Good, memorable film    \
       \ *** Average, hits and misses \
        \ ** Sub-par on many levels    \
         \ * Unquestionably awful       \
          |------------------------------|

    MPAA Rating: NR

Director: Jeff Richardson Producer: Jeff Richardson, Joe Escalante Writer: Jeff Richardson, Robert Stinson Starring: Joe Escalante, Katalina, Mia Crowe, Kandis Scalise, Lisa Hannan, Zander Schluss, Warren Fitzgerald

    http://www.thatdarnpunk.com/

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