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Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

Reviews

An ingenious blood-splattered comedy of errors.

Posted 22nd September 2011, 4:58pm in Film, by Becky Reed


Released in cinemas 23rd September 2011.

Eli Craig (son of Sally Field, fact fans) makes his feature debut with this long-awaited horror comedy.

Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are note perfect as a couple of hillbillies mistaken for serial killers in this clever slapstick, which affectionately riffs on horror greats.

Tucker (Tudyk) and Dale (Labine) are looking forward to a vacation in their ramshackle cabin in the woods. Innocent simpletons with hearts of gold, they run into a bunch of preppy college kids out for some beer-fuelled back country frolics. The joy to be had from Tucker & Dale comes from the hilariously unexpected turn of events, as it becomes an ingenious blood-splattered comedy of errors.

The likes of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Deliverance and Fargo are spoofed in riotous fashion, as chaos reigns in the hicks' cabin, which they stare at lovingly despite it looking like Ed Gein was the previous tenant. Pleasingly gory, it becomes a highly original but utterly ridiculous "slasher flick" with a huge heart and plenty of laughs.

Initially worrying after kicking off with immature gay jokes regarding Tucker and Dale's bromance, Craig's script quickly sharpens and becomes endearing. It takes a good third of its 90 minute run time to fall into place and find its tone, and isn't consistently clever, but when it works, it's brilliant.

Tudyk and Labine have such comic timing and chemistry, a subplot involving Katrina Bowden's student can't help but put a spanner in the works. For a film so gleefully subversive, the overweight, beardy and dishevelled Dale's reciprocated crush on the skinny, blonde, stunning Allison is as clichéd and typified as any Hollywood movie, played without a trace of irony. Thankfully Bowden is a likeable presence, although her moments detract from Tudyk and Labine's old married couple routine. Away from our beloved pair, the unfortunate students aren't particularly memorable, with only the slimy Chad (Jesse Moss) given a character.

A crowd-pleasing romp that is light-hearted relief for horror fans, it sadly turns from canny to corny.

Rating: 7/10

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