half an hour or Less

Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari star in Sony's action comedy '30 Minutes or Less.'A The new sony Pictures Entertainment discharge of a Columbia Pictures presentation in colaboration with Media Privileges Capital of the Red-colored Hour production. Created by Stuart Cornfeld, Ben Stiller, Jeremy Kramer. Executive producers, Monica Levinson, John Levy. Directed by Ruben Fleischer. Script, Michael Diliberti.Nick - Jesse EisenbergDwayne - Danny McBride Chet - Aziz Ansari Travis - Nick Swardson Kate - Dilshad VadsariaChango - Michael PenaJuicy - Bianca KajlichThe Major - Fred WardFor a film four slackers, "half an hour or Less" feels as though it's within an awfully large hurry to become over. Maybe like the figures -- a few dorks forced into slowly destroying a bank by a few lowlifes too lazy to get it done themselves -- aren't enjoyable to be with, forcing "Zombieland" director Ruben Fleischer to race with the action while shortchanging the double-barreled bromance at its core. Still, as junk-food comedy goes, "Less" packs an unexpected quantity of laughs into its brisk running time, recommending decent theatrical prospects with sturdy homevid to follow along with. Nick (Jesse Eisenberg, typecast because the uneasy whitened guy) hates his job, that involves driving just like a maniac because he attempts to deliver pizzas inside an impossibly tight "half an hour or less" time period. He does not get much sympathy from closest friend Chet (Aziz Ansari), who appears to understand that Nick's loser lifestyle makes their own meager achievements look grown-up in comparison. As amigos go, they do not cash in keeping, aside from the truth that the very best many years of their life is in it and subsequently 24 hrs are going to obtain a lot worse. Anywhere, equally mismatched pals Dwayne (Danny McBride) and Travis (Nick Swardson) have hatched a more sophisticated plan which involves kidnapping a pizza guy, strapping an explosive vest to his chest and ordering him to steal $100,000. Not since "Fargo" includes a get-wealthy-quick plan spiraled so disastrously unmanageable so quick, only unlike that film (using its phony "true story" claims), "Less" was clearly inspired through the stranger-than-fiction situation of John Wells, who tried to take advantage of a bank while putting on a collar explosive device (and died following the device detonated). Appropriating about the comic absurdity from the situation, first-time author Michael Diliberti styles the crazy backstory cops later uncovered in to the grounds for his script: Dwayne enables a very beautiful dancer (Bianca Kajlich) to speak him into ordering popular by himself father (Fred Ward), before he is able to get his on the job that old man's inheritance, he must raise enough money to pay for the assassin (Michael Pena). Instead of expose themself, he decides to enlist the aid of a new pizza jockey. Twisting the particulars into an irreverent comedy, the way in which bad-taste enthusiast John Waters might, the pic nonetheless lacks the wickedly anarchic flair of satires like "Serial Mother" and "Cecil B. Demented." Rather, "Less" feels a lot more like a watered-lower and sleek "Pineapple Express," with double that film's McBride brio. Clocking in in a thankfully short 83 minutes, pic spares us the endless ad-libbing, but is not nearly as tight since it's title suggests. Dwayne gives Nick 10 hrs to knock within the bank -- sufficient time to enlist his shrill Indian friend, steal a neighbor's Datsun and stock on all of the necessary supplies (among the more amusing moments involves trying to not attract suspicion while purchasing plastic guns, ski masks and many 5-Hour Energy shots). The robbery itself turns out to be an unpredicted connecting experience for that duo, who've been on uneasy terms the whole mid-day after Nick confessed to deflowering Chet's twin sister (Dilshad Vadsaria). With females good just for objectifying within this testosterone-clogged comedy, Nick and Dwayne try to sort out whatever deep-hidden feelings they've for his or her particular guy buds. If his shouty shtick were not so grating, Ansari might really appear as endearing, declining to abandon his time-explosive device-strapped friend. Meanwhile, even without his usual mullet, McBride has got the whitened-trash buffoon routine cornered, playing up so much auds can't help but understand Swardson's put-upon accomplice. Pena is really a scene-stealer, taking a regrettable Latino stereotype and passing on a twist of Jack Sparrow-like eccentricity, while "Greek's" Vadsaria bakes an unconvincing twin for Ansari, obviously getting inherited all of the pretty genes but no funny ones. They are not really a enjoyable bunch to pass through time with, which leaves you half-wishing the vest would certainly detonate already. Pic's casualties aren't permanent anyway, as shown by an amusing bonus sketch that awaits individuals who view the finish credits. Fleischer has switched d.p.'s since "Zombieland," tapping "Hot Fuzz" lenser Jess Hall to do the job. Like this film, "Less" has trouble framework simple action, yielding clumsy vehicle chases that place the burden of producing excitement about the music and editing. Consequently, pic looks cheap and feels clipped -- an option that might not be entirely accidental, because of the unscenic Michigan eyesores by which the film is placed.Digital camera (Panavision widescreen, Luxurious color), Jess Hall editor, Alan Baumgarten music, Ludwig Goransson production designer, Maher Ahmad art director, Austin Gorg set decorator, Gene Serdena costume designer, Christie Wittenborn seem (Dolby Digital/SDDS/Datasat), Scott Harber supervisory seem editors, Sean McCormack, Kami Asgar re-recording mixers, David E. Fluhr, Christian P. Minkler stunt planners, Ron LeFevour, Tom Lowell visual effects supervisor, Paul Linden visual effects, Zoic Galleries connect producer, Package Giordano assistant company directors, Alex Gayner, Jon Mallard second unit director, George Aguilar casting. Examined in the Grove, La, August. 4, 2011. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 83 MIN. Contact Peter Debruge at peter.debruge@variety.com