PAWN SHOP CHRONICLES (2013)

Directed By: Wayne Kramer 
Written By: Adam Minarovich 
Cinematography By: Jim Whitaker 
Editor: Sarah Boyd 


Cast: Paul Walker, Vincent D’Onofrio, Chi McBride, Matt Dillon, Lukas Haas, Elijah Wood, Judy Greer, Brendan Fraser, Kevin Rankin, DJ Qualls, Pell James, Ashlee Simpson, Thomas Jane, Michael Cudlitz, Norman Reedus, Matt O’Leary, Rachelle LeFevre 


An anthology of stories involving meth addicted white supremacists, a man looking for his kidnapped wife and an Elvis impersonator.

The film starts off with promise. As it has interconnecting stories. So that it’s not exactly an anthology. As it works as a film but while it seems like a great premise and almost like a the first episode of a tv-series for cable.

The first story should set the tone and one wishes the other stories had stayed the same as far as energy. As this story is more comedic but also a hardcore nice action influenced tale of karma and revenge amongst redneck characters that is fine for what it is and has the most energy. Like all stories it also starts off at the pawn shop.

The following stories are different in tone. The next is also a revenge tale that goes badly and has a disappointing performance from Matt Dillon who usually one likes as an actor. This story has more of a thriller element that includes a one of a kind torture sequence that has to be seen to be believed. Unfortunately like most of the tales it ends In Tragedy though slightly references what we have seen before. As like most of the film It has quirky humor and characters.

The third take with Brendan Fraser is the weakest at first but ties everything together by the end. It is also the only ken that seems to be uplifting and had a kind of happy ending. That again still had the sting of the films dark tone. This story is also the strangest where half the humor seems to be Fraser flailing as a bad Elvis Presley Impersonator that you would think 3,000 MILES TO GRACELAND would have cured the screen of. Though st least this story had a great visual showstopper of naked and half naked female zombies.

In between these tales we have the bickering pawn shop employees played by Vincent D’Onofrio and Chi McBride who help connect these tales with items procured from there setting the characters on their paths (which feels a bit like FRIDAY THE 13TH THE SERIES. Where all the items were cursed)

The film is somewhat entertaining but unfortunately feels like a disappointment even with no expectations going into it as director Wayne Kramer has more talent then what is on screen necessarily and you see glimpses of it. If it had stayed somewhat consistent with the first third of the film. The movie could have been more a guilty pleasure as a dark humored action film. It just seems here like the stories while giving the audience more of a variety. They come off more as ideas or sketches of ideas that Don’t seem entirely completely thought out enough. As they all seem to lack a proper ending or main objective.

The actresses or female characters seem to be treated as after thoughts or props (especially the zombie women) and left with nothing much to do.

It just seems like the film tries so hard to be off the wall and shocking that it kind of takes itself that ends up feeling like a joyride only the scenery isn’t as majestic or fulfilling as you had hoped. Even in a luxury vehicle.

The film seems to honor and skewer the Midwest/southern characters and areas it is set In.

The film isn’t horrible it’s just a film that seems to have potential and glimpses of being good but never seems to sustain that promise. It’s Quirks begin to be it’s undoing.


GRADE: C-