Wow. This is going to be different. I guess I have to learn how to write a review for a movie that was actually good. After such gems like "Salt" and "Rain Fall", I haven't really had much to work with. More surprising is my mom picked out this movie. Her selection strategy usually is "Hey, this has Jason Statham in it....its gotta be good right"? But "Five Dollars a Day" turned out to be a pretty decent comedy/drama.
Christopher Walken stars in this indie film, playing an extremely cheap dead-beat dad/swindler. His means of holding onto his cash include pretending to be a guest at hotels for the free breakfasts, using fake IDs at IHOP to get a free meal because its his "birthday", and driving a car advertising Sweet N' Low for the free gas. The Walken character was actually the reason Mom picked the movie out, because she is married to his doppelganger. My dad is also pretty notorious for his penny-pinching, and although he doesn't go as far as Walken (some of the stuff in the movie is probably prosecutable) does in "Five Dollars a Day", I have it on his own admission that he did once get free breakfast at a hotel he wasn't staying at. Of course, now that he has seen this film, I can look forward to having to bail him out of jail at some point.
The film isn't a constant laugh-a-thon like some more mainstream comedies, but it still has some pretty hilarious moments. The story is a unique and interesting one and I couldn't find any real flaws in the acting. Sharon Stone does make an appearance in this movie, but it is just a cameo, and there isn't any Basic Instinct moment either. I was pretty disappointed with the ending, when the movie became more of a drama, and left behind much of the comedy element. After some of the films I had been seeing, I was pretty depressed. Most of the film was pretty damn good though.
Verdict: "Five Dollars a Day" is just an indie film that probably had a limited release in theaters, but if your looking for a few good laughs coupled with a solid storyline, I recommend giving this one a shot. Grade: B+
If you liked this film you might like: can and bottle returns, coupons, and under-tipping the waiter. For a movie shout though, I liken this film a little bit to "Little Miss Sunshine".
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