The Gutter
review by Bobby Blakey
Whether you know his name or not Shameik Moore took the world by storm using only his voice as Miles Morales in the Spider-verse films, but he has been racking up an impressive resume long before that in both TV and film. His latest film, The Gutter teams him up with a great cast including Susan Sarandon, D’Arcy Carden, and Paul Reiser from directors Yassir Lester & Isaiah Lester. Could this comedy manage to hit a strike, or will it be destined for the gutter?
The Gutter follows frequently fired Walt who lands a position tending bar and de-roaching shoes at his local bowling alley AlleyCatz and feels like he’s finally found a home. When money issues threaten AlleyCatz, Walt is pressured by former pro-bowler and current champion drinker Skunk to accept his role as the greatest bowler ever put on this earth. While Walt’s love of big checks and in-your-face style of play dominates the pro tour, his detractors, including ratings-obsessed news anchor Angelo Powers and fresh-out-of-retirement bowling-legend Linda “The Crusher” Curson, furiously attempt to snuff out Walt’s flame before it burns too bright.
The world of bowling just feels like it lends itself to funny possibilities so heading in I was hoping it would be one that found its way. Right out the gate it lets you know that it is going to be chaotic and often over the top but manages to balance it out well to deliver some great laughs. The heft of the film is on Moore’s shoulders alongside Carden who brings her own level of insanity to the mix, but the two together is straight up laughs, most of the time.
The story here is simple and often dumb, but they know exactly the kind of movie they are making and just go for it. It’s one of those dumb movies with heart that is done for a specific audience and will no doubt work for them alone. I found it way
funnier more often than not and reminded me of comedies of the 80s and 90s in the best way possible. Sure, there are plenty of jokes that miss their mark, but plenty more that get it bac on track and bring the funny.
I think it helps to have people like Reiser and Sarandon here that you don’t expect in these kinds of films to elevate the ridiculousness of the whole thing. Reiser was my favorite with his ongoing banter and jerk persona that he looked like he was having a blast going with. Sarandon also takes it seriously and while never gets to go really over the top fits right into the serious world of bowling and what they are putting out there.
In the end this isn’t a comedy that is breaking down any walls in the genre or anything we haven’t seen in some form, but it does its thing, and I laughed. That is really all I hoped for going in and it does just that. I think Moore has great comedic timing and hope to get to see him do more comedies like this in the future.
Decide for yourself and check out The Gutter in theaters and digital on November 1st from Magnolia Pictures.