by Mike Favila, Senior Editor

In terms of indie films, Amateur Night, released yesterday on VOD and Digital, has a lot going for it.  Based on the exploits of writer Joe Syracuse and directed by wife Lisa Addario, it’s a breezy look at the start of parenthood and what parents will sometimes do to get by.

That being said, this situation is a little above the norm.  Jason Biggs plays Guy, a soon to be father, an out of work architect and loving husband.  In order to cover the bills for wife (played by real life wife Jenny Mollen) and burgeoning family, he picks up a delivery job that they found on Craigslist.  In this case, the package being delivered are … strippers.  Hijinx ensue.

As usual, we find Jason Biggs being nerdy adorable in the way that he has cornered the market. Yes he’s played this character before. Yes, it’s not as novel as it was the first time.  Does it really bother me that he doesn’t expand his dramatic palette? Not really.  He’s cornered this market, but he still pulls it off with aplomb . To punish him for playing adorkable would be like snubbing the Ramones for playing punk rock.  Every song is the same song, but it’s a great song.

For genre fans, Jenny Mollen (of Angel fame) is no slouch either in the comedy department.  While she’s often relegated to straight man, she gets off a few zingers herself and plays a believable, vulnerable mother, without overacting it.  Janet Montgomery (as Nikki) does a great job of providing a foil for Guy to continually play a fish out of water.  Ashley Tishdale is funny playing against type, being the designated ‘wild’ stripper.  (Although her speech about being less recognized in her adult films back when they were VCR rentals seemed a little too old for her character).

Amateur Night has some obvious tropes that they could have skipped, such as the disassembled crib metaphor for unpreparedness, or the 70’s wah pedal for first client Stephen Weber (Wings, Private Practice).  I could have also done without the heavy soundtracking.

There’s not a lot of explanation behind her softening stance with Guy, but the movie doesn’t really waste a lot of time on exposition.  As a viewer, you’re almost expected to just take it on faith that she has a warm heart for goofballs.  It doesn’t hurt that Guy is an earnest goofball.  I was almost expecting a speech on how she doesn’t connect with her parents/father.  +100 points for not laying that as a stereotypical backstory.

Overall, while Amateur Night covers a lot of familiar ground, the story comes off breezy, rather than dirty.  I enjoyed the interplay between real life husband/wife Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen and wished there was a little more.  Otherwise, it was a quick, enjoyable film.  On a weekend night, you couldn’t ask for much more.  If you are a fan of  Jason Biggs, this will be a welcome collection to your digital library,

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Amateur Night 3.5 out of 5 panties in the air!