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Very Bad Things (1998) - Trailer Included
The Unapologetic Comedy of a Bachelor Party Celebration Gone Awry.
Very Bad Things - Available on DVD
Writer/Director: Peter Berg
Starring: Christian Slater, Jeremy Piven, Jon Favreau, Daniel Stern, Leland Orser, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Cameron Diaz
“Time for some serious self-exploration - how do I function. For real! No more bullshit. Can I keep my cool when they bounce my bananas, when they won't play my song, etc, etc, etc. Do you get me?” - Boyd
About as subtle as a chainsaw used as a butt plug, very bad people do Very Bad Things in Peter Berg’s jet black comedy from 1998. Taking self preservation to the extremes, these irredeemable characters never gain our sympathy but entertain with their amoral actions.
Kyle Fischer (Jon Favreau) is a nice guy whose due to marry mega bitch Laura Garrety (Cameron Diaz). Putting up with her incessant demands, a Vegas Bachelor Party with his pals is just what is needed to decompress before his vows.
Led by the alpha male Estate agent Robert Boyd (Christian Slater), Kyle joins his eccentric bud Charles (Leland Orser). Stick in the mud Adam (Daniel Stern) and his idiot brother Michael (Jermey Piven) for a road trip to irresponsible behavior.
Arriving in the city of sins hotel room. quickly copious amounts of narcotics and booze are consumed with all the fervor of Richard Pryor attacking a crack pipe.
The fun reaches frenzied levels of indulgence as the entrance of the token prostitute gyrating her way into the lad’s pants triggers a spiral of events destined to end in heinous catastrophe.
Pushing the old adage, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” miles beyond conceivable limits, strap yourselves in and see if the boys can wiggle their way out of the grave they dig for themselves.
“If you take away the horror of the scene, take away the tragedy of the death, take away all the moral and ethical implications that have been drilled into your head since grade one, do you know what you're left with? A 105-pound problem that needs to be moved from point A to point B.” - Boyd
The boys get some supplies.
John Doe says:
Forget The Hangover, Very Bad Things is still the ultimate bachelor party film and it retains its edge over a decade after it’s cinema release.
Snappy dialogue, well timed musical cues and relentless jeopardy all mesh to deliver farcical hilarity where events should disturb. Strong performances from all the cast, aware of their desired responses make for an exciting ride into deranged amusement.
Bordering on a crime thriller at times, the smooth funk and jazz vibes cement the tone that allows smiles to be had.
Peter Berg tells Cameron Diaz where to go
Maintaining velocity, the pacing never gives you time to judge behavior, just universally scorn it. Fearlessly alienating prudish audience members his aim is to delight the target demographic.
Berg's screenplay is witty, giving a unique voice to each of the lead individuals. The word play that twists power hungry corporate diatribes into a motivational tool for ring leader Christian Slater is a highlight.
Slater’s performance is one of his best and sells all his lines with aplomb. Exploiting his mischievous grin and evil raised eye brows to make us laugh in the face of Boyd‘s exponentially expanding, psychopathic tendencies that go beyond diabolical.
Jon Favreau may now be a household name for helming Iron Man, but as an actor his pussy whipped Swingers persona is honed to perfection here. Slowly corrupted by Boyd he gradually sinks into the inexcusable maelstrom.
It is interesting to watch Jeremy Piven (Entourage) as the weak minded Michael when juxtaposed against the Ari Goldesque ego of the all mighty Boyd. His ‘Goosed by god” downfall and general neediness proving the man has range beyond his current status. (Not that it was needed.)
As the uptight do-gooder who refuses to get with the program Daniel Stern (Coupe De Ville) is ideally suited. Matching all the players in their unhinged freak outs, he remains the closest to the reality of the situations.
Leland Orser is best known for meeting grotesque fates in Alien Resurrection and Se7en. Depicting the unbalanced sensitivity of Charles is an ideal match for his screen persona.
Never one to sing the praises of Cameron Diaz (The Last Supper), here she is purposefully the most annoying of the players despite her parts lack of criminal atrocities. Credit where it’s due, her spastic fleeing of the scene in the final ironic moments is exceptional for its comedic physicality.
When Very Bad Things was released John Doe really enjoyed it. Having not seen the film for over 10 years this recent revisit proved that the film holds up as an irresponsible pleasure.
If you’re the kind of person that basks in the glow of others misdeeds and can guffaw at engulfing hedonism, then Very Bad Things will certainly be a prescription for laughter. But, if your easily offended, cannot go with the flow once a tone is established then don’t bother and just stick with The Sound of Music for the umpteenth time.
It's worth noting that in 1997, a year earlier an indie-film called Stag was released that had a very similar plot but took the idea into a crime thriller trajectory. That film starred another of the Entourage crew, this time Kevin Dillon (Drama) and is worth a look for fans of Very Bad Things.
Very Bad Things Trailer - Warning: Spoilers lurk!
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