TAPAWINGO (2023)

Directed By: Dylan K. Narang 

Written By: Dylan K. Narang and Brad Demerea

Cinematography: Jarrod Russell

Editor: Rex M. Teese 

Cast: Jon Heder, Jay Pichardo, Kim Matula, Gina Gershon, Sawyer Williams, Amanda Bearse, John Ratzenberger, Billy Zane, Chad Dukes 

An oddball becomes the bodyguard for a misfit teenager and finds himself in the crosshairs of the town’s family of bullies.

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This film plays like a sequel, continuation or feels like it takes place in the same world as the feature film NAOPLEON DYNAMITE. As well as THE SASQUATCH GANG (which felt like a live action Beavis & Butthead inspired film, only with a lot more innocence) which having John heater starring the film only helps fit into that framework

This film is slightly crazy, but still kind of innocent and clean with Ernest characters passing time in a kind of Arrested Development. It all feels

A bit dated and that they are slowly Catching up but still stuck.

Feels like it could’ve been from Greg Garcia, the creator and show-runner of shows like MY NAME IS EARL and RAISING HOPE. Where it feels a little episodic, but comes together in the end, but you watch these characters who seem kind of stuck in a kind of child like innocence, no matter how adults the behavior.

Though unlike those other films and characters. They might be odd and quirky but here at laws the characters feel a bit more lived in a the filmmakers. As well as the actors have a soft spot for them.

With a main character who is living a relatively normal life and then made into a misfit.

Rather than starting off that way. 

Where it feels like it’s not a fantasy, but it feels like a world that has been built and you’re wondering through and you can’t help but be charmed even with a kind of crime tale set in the middle you still can’t really tell what’s gonna happen next, but you can’t wait to see.

It’s a harmless film

Grade: B-