Michael Baumgarten comes into my life at the most opportune of times. A few months ago, I reviewed his pleasant coming of age martial arts fable, “The Martial Arts Kid,” amidst an impending midterm. It was a pleasant diversion from the woes of college exams! Now, I’m reviewing his latest film, “Paying Mr. McGetty” amidst impending final exams. It too is a pleasant diversion from the woes of college exams! While both films don’t realize their full potential, they’re charming stories with an eclectic cast and jovial spirit!
Returning here is Don “The Dragon” Wilson, playing the mysterious Shota Kabu, a kindly gentleman who’ll knock out a fool at the drop of a hat. He has ties with a local hitman organization, which meets at a fancy restaurant and regale in their current jobs in comedic fashion. Their interactions are so quirky and bizarre, a fitting tone for the film. This is a film that, amidst a rather customary story, sneaks in zany antics such as a dream sequence involving a magical Zen master and a cartoonish Mafia who assault baristas for getting their orders wrong (then cry about it immediately after). There’s even a random (yet welcomed) cameo from Cynthia Rothrock! While the antics are all over the place, the eccentric tone is carried throughout.
Shota is following Tyrrell (an incredibly charismatic R. Marcos Taylor), a dry cleaner who has awoken in Miami Beach in a drunken stupor. He remembers nothing from the previous night, waking up next to a stranger in Cecelia (Alissa Schneider). He scrambles to piece together the previous night’s adventure while trying to make it home to his justifiably irate girlfriend, Meena (Anita Clay). Why is Shota following him? What’s with the outlandish Mafioso Rocco (Wade Williams) who, in Tyrrell’s mind, randomly picked a fight with him? Think “The Hangover” meets “Kung Fu Theater.”
Yes, the martial arts travels over from Baumgarten’s last film and it’s just as well-choreographed here as it was in “The Martial Arts Kid.” The Dragon dishes out most of it, popping up in random intervals to do battle with nameless foes. Baumgarten plays around with this trope midway through, having Shota dispense of an entourage in a parking garage after being mistaken as a Yakuza boss. After laying everyone out, he references his mistaken identity, stating he only cleaned house as a result of confused hostility. This comical approach helps alleviate the arbitrary angles that surface.
If there is one thing that did bother me about “Paying Mr. McGetty,” it’s that Baumgarten’s direction, while energetic and engaging, is too erratic at times. While I understood the purpose of the arbitrary angles (to highlight the quirks of the characters), I disliked how disjointed they came across. Everybody’s getting their stuff in, but not everyone is resonating as they should. Their stories intertwine decently, but the finale feels slightly rushed. The only reason the finale sticks the landing (somewhat) is because of Taylor’s charming performance: he perfectly conveys his bewilderment to the situation as a whole, matching that of the viewer.
Marcos Taylor takes the ball and runs with it, unleashing a rich and endearing performance! He is so smooth as Tyrrell, finding the right balance of cocky and genial. His aloofness gets him in hot water, but his goodhearted tendencies won me over. One understands why Meena puts up with him, as he has his heart in the right place. His short-sightedness might get the better of him, but he does it all for her…and to pay the titular Mr. McGetty.
Don “The Dragon” Wilson also shines in the film, finding his new calling as a kindhearted badass. He had such a welcoming presence in “The Martial Arts Kid” and that carries over here, a little more reserved to match the enigmatic nature of Shota Kabu. He carries himself with confidence, enlightening the viewer to him. Baumgarten knows how to direct him, and I hope the pairing continues.
While Michael Baumgarten may meander too often, he does so at such a breezy pace that even the most random of happenings goes down smooth. The story (which he co-wrote with Adam W. Marsh) may trip over itself in the middle, desperately trying to juggle the oddities on display, but it does so with verve. While rough around the edges, the production as a whole is polished, the cinematography of Stephen Graham inviting and Kazimir Boyle’s score and soundtrack hip enough to complement the tone.
“Paying Mr. McGetty” put a smile on my face and sometimes that’s all a film needs to do!
“Paying Mr. McGetty” will be released sometime in 2017. Keep your eyes peeled for it!
Final Rating: B-