Review of Stark Raving Mad (2002) by Jeff C — 26 Apr 2004

It is a rare thing for me to question why a straight-to-video release never saw life on the big screen. It is an even rarer thing for me to enjoy a performance from Sean William Scott (I have not yet seen The Rundown, which I hear he?s pretty good in). I had occasion to do both while watching Stark Raving Mad, a clever little heist caper that features the calmest, most understated performance of Scott?s career.

Forced to repay his dead brother?s debts to a local crime boss (Lou Diamond Phillips), Ben McGewen (Scott) plans one last heist before retiring. The plan is to stage a rave and, using it as cover, break into the bank next door to retrieve a priceless statue. However, Murphy?s Law intervenes and McGewen soon discovers his foolproof plan has a few unexpected loopholes. An uncooperative club owner, undercover FBI agents, the local Chinese mafia, and his own crew of bank robbers threaten to blow the plan out of the water and land Ben in the hot seat.

This is Scott?s most likeable character yet. Ben is cocky and sure of himself, but Scott abandons the obnoxious behavior his characters are famous for and basically plays straight man to the rest of the cast. Joining Scott is an ensemble of lesser-known, but very funny, actors including Timm Sharp as loveable loser, Rikki; Patrick Breen as a superstitious, epileptic safecracker; John B. Crye as a former concert pyrotechnician turned demolitions expert; Suzy Nakamura as the security systems expert; and, Dave Foley as an undercover FBI agent with more at stake than he realizes.

Director?s and screenwriters Drew Daywalt and David Schneider keep the action moving at a pretty brisk pace and do a nice job of juggling multiple storylines and tying it all together in the end.

Recently released on DVD, Stark Raving Mad is presented in 1.85:1widescreen and 5.1 Dolby Digital or 2.0 DD Surround. Bonus features include optional commentary, a brief, and boring, behind the scenes featurette, storyboards, and a photo gallery.

Stark Raving Mad is a surprisingly good film and deserves a broader audience than its STV status will probably allow.