Freaktana A Major Disappointment

AutCuddly Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

Fulke Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Eric266 This movie seemed like a good way to spend 90 minutes. The description on Netflix sounded interesting. However, the movie comes off as a higher end Hallmark Channel film than something that strives to be innovative.James Lafferty is James Adams, a recently fired financier who is lost for what to do with himself. He wanders into a Waffle House-style diner and gets a job. There he meets several characters who both work at, and frequent, the diner. Danny Glover lends some weight to the proceedings as a cook. The rest of the cast as unknowns or character actors who have done better things. Julie Gonzalo as Mark's wife barely rises above cookie cutter wife from every other movie about a man who has to change his life. She frets about bills, starting a family, questioning his choice of jobs and or ideas for a new career, etc. (It took me a second to recognize Ms. Gonzalo as Amber from Dodgeball. Has it really been fourteen years?).Lafferty has a nice easy going personality, but that was my issue with it. He was so laid back and lackadaisical for someone who just got canned from his career that he came off as comatose. The closest comparison I can make is Peter from Office Space, who was hypnotized not to care. James takes his firing and his lack of direction in stride. I guess he's just a better man than me.At 86 minutes, the movie has a pretty crisp pace. It felt like it needed some more depth and I think some better editing would have worked wonders. Even the supporting characters who are usually nutty and lovable in these types of movies, came off really bland.The movie is based on a book by the real James Adams.

FlashCallahan Jimmy Adams is a V.P. of a $30 billion hedge fund, who loses his job and winds up working as a waiter at a very popular waffle shop. Among the madness of the 24-hour diner, Jimmy befriends Edward, an ex-con grill master who serves up not only the best grits in the business, but lessons about life, boxing, and mastering the grill...This is one of those films that is nothing more than a big warm hug. Even if you appear to be at your lowest ebb, this film will brighten your day and probably inspire you.And that's my only gripe with the film, everything feels just too safe, and even though it is based on fact, the film depicts that Adams really has nothing to worry about, even though he sacrifices a lot, because he has numerous subliminal cushions to fall back on, in case of an emergency.Everyone warms to him almost instantly, and the two characters who don't, really add nothing tho the films narrative.Glover is excellent as the Mickey/Duke homage from the Rocky films, guiding this well educated man down the common sense road.Jimmy helps everyone out, even the customers, and although his plans sound extremely delusional, his loving wife hardly ever becomes concerned about his well being.There is a hint of loss for about two minutes toward the end, but that soon subsides thanks to the bank of Dad.But it's a well made film, the restaurant scenes have genuine warmth and camaraderie that is rarely seen in recent cinema, and like I've already said, it's one of the most feelgood films I've seen in a very long time...

phd_travel There is something morbidly fascinating about watching a former finance executive struggle with working in a fast food franchise. A trader in mortgage backed securities gets sacked for some scapegoat reason and decides to do something down to earth.This isn't a comedy - it's kind a of a life change drama told in a semi serious tone and it gets quite depressing when they sell their home. One surprising thing is his wife is supportive beyond belief putting up with his whims and fancies and changing their life situation so much.James Lafferty of One Tree Hill and Julie Gonzalo of Veronica Mars are quite appealing leads. Danny Glover plays an ex con cook.Interesting but a little sad.

jjbroussard Shallow, superficial cliché' fest that could be enjoyed by the simplest audience out there. Sat through it just to see how pathetic it would get. It did not disappoint. I was hoping at some point he would hire a personal injury lawyer or file a grievance with the NLRB to enforce company handbook guidelines. How would any evil Wall Street firm hire such a thin skinned, spoiled, clueless child to bilk investors out of millions of dollars? After stealing billions of dollars, this dolt cannot fill out a job application. This financial genius, who has got to be carrying a $5,000 a month mortgage, decides to take a job paying $400 per week before taxes. After an uplifting afternoon of serving pancakes, he decides to sell his car and house to buy the joint without consulting his wife. With such a grasp on economics I would not be surprised to find out that the writer of this film went on to write other hits like Dodd-Frank and the Affordable Care Act. I think Jonathan Grubber definitely deserves a co-credit for this masterpiece.