Review of 30 Minutes or Less (2011) by Thefilmdoctor — 22 Mar 2016

I have no faith in myself to speak cogently about what goes on in this fractured farce. But I do have faith in director Ruben Fleischer. Yes, I liked Zombieland that much and am eager for his next, The Gangster Squad with Sean Penn.

OK, I'm drifting. The facts: Jesse Eisenberg goes crazy cuckoo but will not win an Oscar nod, like he did for The Social Network, as Nick, a pizza guy who delivers in 30 minutes or less. Promises are forgotten as two scuzzballs, immortally scuzzed by Nick Swardson and Danny McBride, strap a bomb on Nick and force him to rob a bank. The plot is (very) loosely based on a real case with tragic consequences. The movie is just an excuse for laughs that come fast, fat and raunchy as Nick mixes it up with Chet (hilarious Aziz Ansari), a teacher who's Nick's bestie except when Nick confesses his erotic cravings for Chet's sister. The bomb? Fleischer isn't much on details. It's all about the zigzagging rush of the ride.