Don Verdean

I tend to respect the idea of Jared Hess movies, but be rather lukewarm to the actual films themselves. This is by far my favorite. He combines his strength, eclectic over the top characters that manage to feel grounded, with what I consider his best script story wise to date. It has good laughs and a lot of heart and Sam Rockwell so what more could you want.

The characters are all one dimensional, but it has a certain charm to it.

DON VERDEAN is firmly in director Jared Hess' wheelhouse of low-key offbeat comedy. The gently pious undercurrents in his work have never been more direct as in this story of a "Biblical archaeologist" turned historical fabulist and his slow-motion fall from grace. There is something reassuringly human about Hess' films, though this one plays it too safe with too many rough drafts of jokes and suggestions of comedic situations that could stand to be taken a step or two farther.

Passable comedy from Hess. Its original enough in its scam and the characters are believable but its lacking the funny.

Don Verdon has strong moments of comedy when it is not being too heavy-handed in its message. There seems to be a trend this year with comedy movies being mean spirited - which I am not a fan of. I am thinking of the Joe Dirt and Dumb and Dumber sequels in particular. Jermaine Clement maintains his awkward and funny screen presence no matter which project he is in. This movie might play better on a second viewing, because once I adapted to its world I found myself laughing more.

Don Verdean has an interesting premise, but the end result is a vapid film that never really clicks. The satire is decent enough but laughs are scarce, and the film drags. Entirely mediocre.

Absurdly dry comedy combining fake archeology and religious effects for a tiny swindle of belief. Jemaine Clement was the MVP! Not many major laughs, but it's clever enough in it's stupidity to be worth the look.

The films of Jared and Jerusha Hess are some of the most "nothing-filled" projects out there, and Don Verdean proves to be no exception. With the bare minimum of a plot, a waste of talent and premise, and only a couple of chuckles in a 90-minute film, Don Verdean is a terrible movie.