The Machine – An Absolutely Ridiculous Action Comedy

Every once in a while comes a story that is so ridiculous and unbelievable on paper that it could never work as a film. Based on the standup set that put comedian Bert Kreischer on the map, The Machine is an action comedy that is so ridiculous, cheesy, and over-the-top that it surprisingly works in spite of a wild premise that should not. In what had the makings to be either really good or really bad, the film mostly leans toward the former, delivering a hilarious tale that is not only entertaining but features a grounded father-son arc. That being said, it is obviously not going to be for everyone, be it its premise or its brand of humor. The film is mostly for fans of Bert Kreischer and his style of comedy so for those who are not fans of the comedian, it will probably not change any minds. However, he, playing himself, and Mark Hamill as his father absolutely carry it. Their chemistry is easily the best part of the film while Hamill was a consummate scene stealer responsible for many of the film’s funniest moments.

As mentioned, based on the set of the same name that put Bert Kreischer on the map, The Machine takes place well after his heyday. Trying to move forward and repair his family after years of bad behavior and controversy, his experience with Russian mobsters while on a booze-filled college trip to Russia came back with a vengeance as he and his estranged father Albert (Hamill) are kidnapped by a mobster named Irina (Babic) and then taken back to Russia so that Bert could recover the pocket watch they claimed he stole back then. Retracing the younger Bert’s (Tatro) steps made for an interesting contrast as the film transitions back and forth in time to show how times have changed and his impact over the last 23 years but also how he has changed, using both periods in an inventive way narratively. Though it could have gone further with it, those moments were incredibly ridiculous, they were nonetheless fun to watch. Unbeknownst to Bert and Albert, they found themselves in the middle of a power struggle within Irina’s family in the midst of an overall turf war within Russia. The search for that pocket watch, through the lens of Bert’s drunken past, was not an easy one.

Taking Bert, Albert, and Irina through the criminal underworld as the story became increasingly ridiculous as it went on as the three found themselves in increasingly dangerous situations. The unreliability of his memory along with the passage of time opened the door for plenty of twists and turns as audiences are simply there for the ride along with Bert and Albert, assuming they haven’t already checked out. The film requires a lot of suspension of belief and granted, not everyone will be willing to do that. The estranged father and son were certainly out of their element as they could do little more than watch as the film plays that against the ridiculousness of their new surroundings for laughs and for the most part, it does but there was depth to it as well. Little did he know, Bert’s return to Russia was going to be an introspective one that forced him to face what he had did and atone for his many misdeeds in Russia and at home with his family. Meanwhile, spending some quality time with his father gave them the chance to air their grievances and iron out their issues as Irina had her own issues with her family to contend with. While the final outcome may be predictable, it did not take away from everything that led to it.

The writing was a surprise but ultimately, the best part of The Machine was the performances of Kreischer and Hamill as Bert and Albert. Their stellar chemistry made that father-son dynamic which grounds the film in a flawed yet relatable humanity so much so that they stood out even more amongst what was happening around them. They were fun and hilarious to watch, especially the latter in a role unlike what many are used to seeing. Showing range, Kreischer was as funny as he was heartfelt as he shows some vulnerability as Bert goes introspective. At times, it felt like he was the straight man up against Hamill as Albert. The energy he brings was a delight to watch as he finds a place in all the craziness and steals scenes with that moment from the trailers being the easy standout. Babic more than held her own as she peels back the layers of her menacing exterior. Tatro was fine as the younger Bert though his limited screen time didn’t allow him to be more than just a plot device.

In the end, The Machine sounds like it wouldn’t work but surprisingly does, delivering one of the wildest watches of the year. While it won’t be for everyone, it is a hilarious and heartfelt action comedy underneath all that ridiculousness.

still courtesy of Screen Gems

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.