Review of Stuck! (2009) by Walter M — 26 Jul 2009

In "Stuck," Brandi Boski(Mena Suvari) works as an aide at a nursing home. Her hard work has gained her the possibility of a promotion and to further please her superiors, she agrees to work on a Saturday. That night, she goes partying with Tanya(Rukiya Bernard), a co-worker and friend, and Rashid(Russell Hornsby), their drug connection. Even though Brandi is high on ecstasy and alcohol, she drives home but runs a red light and hits Thomas Bardo(Stephen Rea), an unemployed project manager and newly evicted from a flophouse, who becomes embedded in her windshield. In the darkness, she continues home without seeking any further assistance for him.

"Stuck" gets off to a good start, detailing the soullessness of a self-involved society with an uncaring bureaucracy where the police seem more interested in harrassing the homeless than anything else. After the hit and run, the movie quickly goes downhill, especially in its attempts to milk any kind of humor out of the situation. That's not even including credibility being strained to the breaking point. Once you establish Brandi as somebody who goes above the call of duty in the care of individuals, you cannot just turn around and turn her into such a cruel and unfeeling person. I mean I know this is inspired by a true story but seeing it dramatized does not convince me that people could behave in such a way towards each other.