Most everyone on IMDb has been bashing this movie, saying that "it's nothing like Super Troopers or Club Dread" when, in all reality, it has the SAME exact humor as either of those movies. Kevin Hefferman is comic gold along with the rest of the Broken Lizard Comedy Group and this was not a disappointing buy for me simply because I love their material and this was nothing different from their normal humor. So stop listening to all the critics, go out and rent it, and form an opinion for yourself. Then, after viewing it first-hand, you can form your own opinion based upon what you actually saw, instead of what everyone on IMDb says about the movie. Now that's all I have to say, and I just need this stuff to fill my 10 lines necessary to post on the page.
33 Reviews
Shows the strengths - and weaknesses - of Broken Lizard
adamwhite19 January 2006
Like a lot of people on IMDb, I saw Super Troopers first and laughed my *ss off, thinking these guys were the second coming of Monty Python or something. Then I saw Club Dread, which had a significantly higher budget and more studio support, and I was certainly let down. So when I saw Puddle Cruiser on the shelf, I thought this might be the holy grail of Broken Lizard movies: an early effort in which these guys' talents could really shine, without being overpowered by the production.
But alas this sluggish, only sporadically amusing film brings to light one glaring fact about the BL team: these guys may be charismatic and talented, but writing is NOT their strong suit. This script is simply not funny, and no amount of natural comedic talent can cover that up. That makes it all the clearer why Super Troopers worked so well, while Club Dread didn't. Just compare the scripts, and you'll see that one is full of great jokes and situations ripe with comedic possibility, while the other is more of a premise than anything else.
So while Puddle Cruiser is a charming look at the roots of these guys' collegiate comedy bond, it is far from a solid film. Watch it for the nostalgia value, and hope these guys put as much effort into their future scripts as they did on Super Troopers.
But alas this sluggish, only sporadically amusing film brings to light one glaring fact about the BL team: these guys may be charismatic and talented, but writing is NOT their strong suit. This script is simply not funny, and no amount of natural comedic talent can cover that up. That makes it all the clearer why Super Troopers worked so well, while Club Dread didn't. Just compare the scripts, and you'll see that one is full of great jokes and situations ripe with comedic possibility, while the other is more of a premise than anything else.
So while Puddle Cruiser is a charming look at the roots of these guys' collegiate comedy bond, it is far from a solid film. Watch it for the nostalgia value, and hope these guys put as much effort into their future scripts as they did on Super Troopers.
Decent subtle flick from the Broken Lizard crew
DJJOEINC20 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Broken Lizard's Puddlecruiser - a cute campus based romantic comedy about a guy who falls in love with a girl that also dates a rugby player from another college.Not as over the top as Super Troopers or Club Dread - this movie feels like Outside Providence - the more realistic feeling boarding school romance flick the Farrelly brothers did in between their more over the top movies There's Something About Mary and Shallow Hal . This movie had lots of subtle comedy sprinkled throughout and seemed to capture the going to college vibe perfectly-not worth seeking out or anything- but a good diversion on a rainy day. If you are looking for a Beerfest type comedy go elsewhere for your kegstands- if you want a charming almost realistic movie about the college experience -try this one out. C+
Don't miss this one, it's a riot. You'll laugh off a kidney!
monkeysvsrobotsdotcom27 January 1999
A hilarious movie made by a comedy group called the "Broken Lizard". They were recently-graduated Colgate students who raised a pile of money to make their movie. Armed with a great script, a bunch of unknown actors and a great soundtrack they made their movie on the campus about a group of friends, a girl, and a guy named Traci Shannon aka "Thunder". The acting is great, the lighting and sounds are amazingly well done. It is amazing what you can do with $160,000 and a good imagination. They are currently touring the country in a Winnebago, going to college campuses to show their movie. Look for it! You won't be disappointed.
Don't expect much
jasonklingensmith27 December 2005
Super Troopers was an instant classic. Club Dread, while disappointing to many, had its moments. Puddle Cruisers has fewer moments. I saw this movie on the shelf of my local video store and saw at the bottom that it was made by the Broken Lizard group who made Super Troopers, so naturally I picked it up. I only found one scene to be laugh out loud funny. A far cry from Super Troopers. All in all, I was very disappointed. I would not recommend this to anyone, unless you have an abundance of free time, and really need to kill some time. However, you're better off playing video games, or watching something that might make you laugh or think.
I hate robot frat-boys.
ElijahCSkuggs29 April 2010
Broken Lizard's first movie? Alright, I'm down for that. I'm not the biggest fan of Broken Lizard, as I think Super Troopers is kinda over-rated, and I'm a notorious fratboy hater
and this is a fratboy favorite. With that said, I also didn't care for Club Dread either. But Beerfest, I enjoyed quite a bit. I'm a sucker for OTT German antics, boozing, and Mo'nique, so it was just the right ingredients. One thing about the Broken Lizard crew is that they're always gungho in their comedy. They seem to always been on the same comedic page with one another, whether I like the jokes or not, and that's something I appreciate.
Puddle Cruiser is basically a cliché college love story with a Broken Lizard style. The main story arc is boy has hots for girl, girl likes guy but already has a boyfriend. They try to make it work, but of course that doesn't work smoothly, blah blah blah. Then you have a couple side stories revolving around breaking in entering, 6 digit phone numbers and weirdo mail clerks, which all work nicely on their own.
I gotta admit, I wasn't expecting much for this film. I was expecting the humor that the guys are known for, to be unpolished and much more in your face. But a lot of the jokes were handled well, and combined silly characters with some sly writing to bring home the laughs. Mind you, I don't laugh very often in most comedies, and this is no different, but the film has likability to it and enough quirkiness that made it a success.
I've seen quite a few Broken Lizard fans bash this film but they're probably just frat-boys who were simply expecting something similar to Super Troopers. In a way I like this more than Super Troopers as I really hate frat-boys. But I can also admit when I noticed something that didn't sit well with me. The writing during the relationship scenes, and the two leads in that relationship were kinda iffy. Not once was I really impressed with what they were dishing out. It was all pretty cliché and kind predictable.
But like I said above, I hate frat-boys, and I thought this movie was a pretty good film. It won't be blowing your minds, but if you can have an open-mind, unlike robot frat-boys, and give this film a chance, you should come away enjoying it. I know I did. But of course, I hate frat-boys.
Puddle Cruiser is basically a cliché college love story with a Broken Lizard style. The main story arc is boy has hots for girl, girl likes guy but already has a boyfriend. They try to make it work, but of course that doesn't work smoothly, blah blah blah. Then you have a couple side stories revolving around breaking in entering, 6 digit phone numbers and weirdo mail clerks, which all work nicely on their own.
I gotta admit, I wasn't expecting much for this film. I was expecting the humor that the guys are known for, to be unpolished and much more in your face. But a lot of the jokes were handled well, and combined silly characters with some sly writing to bring home the laughs. Mind you, I don't laugh very often in most comedies, and this is no different, but the film has likability to it and enough quirkiness that made it a success.
I've seen quite a few Broken Lizard fans bash this film but they're probably just frat-boys who were simply expecting something similar to Super Troopers. In a way I like this more than Super Troopers as I really hate frat-boys. But I can also admit when I noticed something that didn't sit well with me. The writing during the relationship scenes, and the two leads in that relationship were kinda iffy. Not once was I really impressed with what they were dishing out. It was all pretty cliché and kind predictable.
But like I said above, I hate frat-boys, and I thought this movie was a pretty good film. It won't be blowing your minds, but if you can have an open-mind, unlike robot frat-boys, and give this film a chance, you should come away enjoying it. I know I did. But of course, I hate frat-boys.
So Disappointed, Super Troopers is the way to go!
smartone1514 January 2006
Oh My Gosh!!!! This was the first movie Broken Lizard made as a group (although it just recently came to video), and I have never been more disappointed in my entire life!!! I tell you what, if I had seen this movie before I saw Super Troopers (which by the way, is a kick A$$ movie!!!), I never ever would have watched it!! I had read several reviews online, as well as on the cover of the DVD, that raved it as being,"Broken Lizard's funniest movie ever!" Now if they were referring to Super Troopers as being their funniest movie ever, I would agree nonstop, but not this one. Talk about dry. It took the movie a good 45 minutes to even get going, and by then, I was so out of the mood to watch it, that it wasn't even worth it. Maybe you gotta be high for it to really be funny? I dunno. I love these guys, I really do, but that movie is by far the worst one they've made. Club Dread was a pretty good movie, but this one, just wow. I'd highly recommend Super Troopers if you want a good laugh, but if you want more of a romance, drama, with a few funny spots, I'd say go with Puddle Cruiser. Just my opinion though, everyone is entitled to their own! :)
Not a bad first movie
sid22868 May 2008
This is the first, independent film by Broken Lizard. The people who brought you such films as Super Troopers and Beerfest. This movie is a whole different kind of humor ( more like Clerks than their other movies).
This movie relies less on slap stick and more on humorous situations that are not completely different from the normal college experience. The characters are not as wacky, but each one is more heart felt and real. And the story moves at a much slower pace than their other films but it is definitely worth a watch.
7 out of 10
This movie relies less on slap stick and more on humorous situations that are not completely different from the normal college experience. The characters are not as wacky, but each one is more heart felt and real. And the story moves at a much slower pace than their other films but it is definitely worth a watch.
7 out of 10
Sucked awfully!
dsoliman22 July 2006
This movie was the worst movie I've ever seen. No story, no point, it wasn't even funny at all, not sure why people say this movie is hilarious because it sucked SO much!! Felix Bean the main character sucked. Susanna sucked. This movie was made in 1996 and it really was set in the 80s. What else, I'm never letting my friend pick movies ever again. Hmm, the movie cover said it was from the producers from super troopers, who kidnapped them and stole their identities. Wow, what a waste of time. The only minute thing that was funny was Freaky Ricky, he was funny, especially when he and Emily ended up together. That was funny. All and all, it sucked, waste of time and sleep. Wow, never thought a movie like this could be made, so dumb for watching for watching it to the end.
Alright
ilc1510 February 2007
I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie. Being that it was a Broken Lizzard movie, and that on the box cover there were a pair of female legs in a mini-skirt I certainly didn't expect the only nudity to be of a male's rear-end. It is like they tried to make a movie about what it was really like to be in college. It wasn't too over the top, like some movies remembering the good old days are, but it had its moments. It was about a college kid who had a relationship problem and some dumb friends. I think everyone who has been to college could identify with some of the scenes. Personally I felt that the lead character wasn't particularly interesting to watch, while all of the supporting characters were. Problem is, he was in every scene and they weren't. So when compared to Super Troopers or Beerfest, where they just were as goofy as possible, in Puddle Cruiser they tried to make a real movie, and tried to simulate the college experience. So don't watch it expecting a movie whose sole goal is to make you laugh, but rather as a movie that tries to accurately portray a time in life that happens to be pretty funny and confusing.
Stereotypical Bad Student Film
steaderjshuntz17 August 2006
I rented this movie because the DVD cover made it look like it was going to be a ridiculous college comedy like van wilder or animal house. I took it to my friend house to watch for movie night. We ended up stopping it 15 minutes into the film, and watched Copper Mountain instead. I don't know if any of you have seen Copper Mountain, but it isn't great either. However, I would have to say that the Alan Thick Jim Carrey Duo made it a more enjoyable watch.
I later finished Puddle Cruiser. This movie was slow and the humor was forced. This movie reminded me of some stinkers that I saw in some of my earlier production classes in college. I was left wondering "was this the film that enabled Broken Lizard to make Supertroopers?" Also how could this movie suck so bad? Supertroopers was good and Club Dread was decent. Don't see this movie!
I later finished Puddle Cruiser. This movie was slow and the humor was forced. This movie reminded me of some stinkers that I saw in some of my earlier production classes in college. I was left wondering "was this the film that enabled Broken Lizard to make Supertroopers?" Also how could this movie suck so bad? Supertroopers was good and Club Dread was decent. Don't see this movie!
Broken Lizard Classic
dancerwh866 October 2004
This flick highlights the comedic skills of the broken lizard troop and is a must see for any fan. It is my personal favorite of the three films the troupe has made and it is every bit as funny as Super Troopers if not more so. Steve Lemme is excellent as the romantic lead a different role than he has played in the other films. Erik Stolhanske is also incredibly funny as the trippy Freaky Reaky. The story is simple, but the writing fully makes up for it. It is incredibly dialogue driven and original. An excellent debut film and it must be noted that without they probably wouldn't have been able to make Super Trooper so all of their fans owe a big debt of gratitude to this little scene indy.
Rock Bottom
pfdfiredog2 March 2006
If you would have asked me 1 month ago how this movie was I probably would have left most of this out, but I am a fan and as any fan I visit the movies sites often well when Super Troopers came out I visited that site after the release on DVD and was hooked yea it's a difficult site to stay on, but the good ones normally are like good families they stick together. What a story this company/comedy troop has.BEGGING people to come and see there movies on street corners,universities, anywhere they can and all for free and after all that to develop a great fan base after a few years THEY CRAP ON IT And decide to close down there website that helped them and was created for the fans, but the worst thing about it....THEY DIDN'T TELL ANY OF THEM. They just decided that they are better than us they want new fans not the fans that helped them get where they are....you know the same fans they begged years ago. Still the smart crew they are they released the best movie with Super Troopers and got everyones attention and thank God for that because after that they have sucked with everything else. Good for you guys way to go mainstream, just remember when you realize your material isn't that good and you have no new fans left you are the ones who crapped the original ones away. FANS MAKE YOU WHO YOU ARE NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. Never burn your bridges
Bring on the Super-Troopers
bmcmolo21 January 2002
I was excited to find this film on Sundance, it having been recommended to me by a friend who's no slouch in the picking-out-talented films department. I'm amazed this was done with only $160,000. I greatly look forward to the next projects of everyone involved. It reminded me of "Bottle Rocket," not so much in plot or style but in overall spirit and fun. I hope this gets the wide release it deserves, as I'd love to buy the DVD and find out more about how it was done, etc. Great film to watch with friends or by yourself. I know this review doesn't say all that much, but watching it this afternoon for the second time has made me alternately nostalgic and lighthearted, and I felt like tossing these words out into cyberspace.
I didn't like Super Troopers, and I didn't like this
megawhoosits12 May 2006
I found Super Troopers only mildly amusing at best (seemed like a glorified Police Academy ripoff to me), and I rented this movie in hopes of it being better. It wasn't.
The writing is absolutely horrible and the pacing of this film is even worse. It doesn't feel like a whole lot happens in this film, or that it really gives us a reason to give a damn about any of the characters.
The actor who plays Felix is totally uninspired, though possibly due in part to the dialogue he had to work with. In short, this movie just went wrong in so many places.
I get the impression that since films like Clerks, independent filmmakers seem to think that they can make movies like this with long, rambling scenes of dialogue where characters are trying to be funny. But, where dialogue in Clerks pushes the story forward, in this movie, it hopelessly weighs it down. Films are supposed to have a decent balance of action and dialogue, and as tempting as it is for filmmakers to try to have tons of snappy, funny dialogue, it just doesn't always work. Especially if they're not that good at writing dialogue. I hate to say it, but even "Extreme Heist" was more interesting than this movie- and that movie was so low-budget it was shot on video.
The writing is absolutely horrible and the pacing of this film is even worse. It doesn't feel like a whole lot happens in this film, or that it really gives us a reason to give a damn about any of the characters.
The actor who plays Felix is totally uninspired, though possibly due in part to the dialogue he had to work with. In short, this movie just went wrong in so many places.
I get the impression that since films like Clerks, independent filmmakers seem to think that they can make movies like this with long, rambling scenes of dialogue where characters are trying to be funny. But, where dialogue in Clerks pushes the story forward, in this movie, it hopelessly weighs it down. Films are supposed to have a decent balance of action and dialogue, and as tempting as it is for filmmakers to try to have tons of snappy, funny dialogue, it just doesn't always work. Especially if they're not that good at writing dialogue. I hate to say it, but even "Extreme Heist" was more interesting than this movie- and that movie was so low-budget it was shot on video.
man was this hard to watch!
kelsey-4522 November 2006
man was this hard to watch! it was not at all funny, not well made and it had no point or plot to it whatsoever. the acting was horrible. it was not well made at all. it looked like a bunch of kids my age were just screwing around and making a pointless movie. it is by far the absolute worst broken lizard movie. if you are a broken lizard movie like myself you will disappointed and bored to your death. please skip this pointless movie about ugly guys looking for chicks. you will not regret m advice. by the way, don't say you didn't find this review helpful just because you didn't agree with it. thats stupid, like this movie. the only OK scene was when the main guy was playing rugby and got beat the crap out of. i liked that cause i found his character pretty damn annoying.
Just take this for what it is...
mcintani19 February 2006
OK...everyone needs to realize that the Broken Lizard gang has some gags that work. That's about it. If you are looking for another "Super Troopers," this is closer than "Club Dread," but still way, way off. I'm being quite lenient because this was the comedy troupe's first film. The one thing these guys never fail to do is play well off of each other. Kevin Heffernan has always been a standout, so keep an eye on him. There were a half-dozen memorable moments, and nothing that made me fall to the floor laughing. Available everywhere, but this is standard rental material. Worth a look if you're a BL fan, but you can probably find something better to do with your time.
College comedy romp slightly above average for a novice indie
=G=9 August 2001
"Puddle Cruiser" is slightly more clever than your average low budget novice indie. Amusing, somewhat wacky, situational college comedy which is more fun than funny, this little campus romp avoids the usual raunch as it tells it's lightly romantic story. An okay watch for bored students.
Really good first film for Broken Lizard
marimbadaddy26 July 2006
Since one would most likely be watching this movie after seeing Super Troopers and/or Club Dread, one would be tempted naturally to compare this movie to the others. One should keep in mind this was their first film, and the budget was very low. That said... it is a good movie, well worth watching. It has several laughs out loud moments which in itself is worth the rental fee. It is very slow paced, and the film is almost completely dialog driven. However, there is great humor to be found in this dialog, the same humor which is found in S.T. or C.D..
Having been out of college for over 10 years now, I imagine this would be even funnier watching this as a college student, as the plot centers around college life in a small pond. However, it has a nostalgic nature seeing this, as it did bring back some of my college memories.
The acting of the lead character by Steve Lemme is extremely flat and tedious, helping to keep the pace fairly slow. (Lemme however in S.T. makes up for this ten fold.) Fortunately, the supporting characters played by the rest of the Lizard troop are exaggerated and outlandish. The repartee between Kevin and Paul's characters is particularly hilarious.
Jay and Kevin are excellent editors, and Jay also chose great music for the soundtrack. Jay also avoids the usual mistake of a young film-maker with a dialog driven script by having good and interesting cinematography. The mail room scenes with Freaky are funny and show off Jay's creativity behind the camera.
Again this is a good movie. It of course doesn't stand up well against Super Troopers, (which in my opinion is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen.) And it will not be as visually as interesting as Club Dread which must have had a budget 100 times bigger than Puddle Cruiser. But it is a good and funny movie which can stand up on its own. I highly recommend it to any Lizard fans, and any fans of good comedy.
Having been out of college for over 10 years now, I imagine this would be even funnier watching this as a college student, as the plot centers around college life in a small pond. However, it has a nostalgic nature seeing this, as it did bring back some of my college memories.
The acting of the lead character by Steve Lemme is extremely flat and tedious, helping to keep the pace fairly slow. (Lemme however in S.T. makes up for this ten fold.) Fortunately, the supporting characters played by the rest of the Lizard troop are exaggerated and outlandish. The repartee between Kevin and Paul's characters is particularly hilarious.
Jay and Kevin are excellent editors, and Jay also chose great music for the soundtrack. Jay also avoids the usual mistake of a young film-maker with a dialog driven script by having good and interesting cinematography. The mail room scenes with Freaky are funny and show off Jay's creativity behind the camera.
Again this is a good movie. It of course doesn't stand up well against Super Troopers, (which in my opinion is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen.) And it will not be as visually as interesting as Club Dread which must have had a budget 100 times bigger than Puddle Cruiser. But it is a good and funny movie which can stand up on its own. I highly recommend it to any Lizard fans, and any fans of good comedy.
Pants
ravenwood8016 October 2008
Even though this is the first film by the broken lizard group, it's the last one I saw. Having mildly enjoyed Super Troopers, and managed to sit through the crap that is club dred and beerfest, I was surprised to hear they did an earlier film. Now i didn't sit down with high hopes, but was hoping for a funny campus romp. My friend asked me to keep in mind they are younger (obviously) and its their first foray into film. I did and was still disappointed. Not taking away the acting and comedy skills of the BL guys, they were OK. The whole film was tiresome, clichéd and frankly boring. Some of the other actors in the film were really poor at acting. And the Rugby game didn't even resemble rugby. Poor showing. They improved drastically with Super Troopers and have declined since. Lets hope they get back on form with Super Troopers 2
Not necessarily the funniest BL movie, but my favorite.
Aldo-929 February 2004
Before I get into the review, it's necessary for me to explain the summary. Super Troopers is a very funny movie, though I find Club Dread funnier, but I think Puddle Cruiser has the best story and is the best made film of the three. Now on with the review:
I love romantic comedies, and the fact that this movie is a romantic comedy (though not in the conventional sense, is great. Each member of Broken Lizard is great in this film, though I particularly love Eric Stolhanske as Freaky Reaky, he's just a fun character and easily on the level with Farva from Super Troopers, another character who is just out there and weird. Heffernan and Soter are great as Grogan and Matt, the two characters that set this story into motion. They are the comic relief of this movie and they pull it off nicely.
Jay Chandrasekhar plays the best friend character of the movie and it's always great to see Jay, since I know he must really be talented cause he's able to direct while acting in the movies, which is a treat (I get a kick out of actor directors for some reason).
And finally, we get to the main character. Felix, played by Steve Lemme. This character is so far removed from Mac in Super Troopers, and even Jaun in Club Dread that you'd almost mistake them for different actors. Hell everyone in Broken Lizard is able to play completely different characters that if you didnt know all three movies were made by the same people, you might think it was five different actors in each movie (except for Paul Soter, as much as I like him he doesnt seem to change much from movie to movie).
I love romantic comedies, and the fact that this movie is a romantic comedy (though not in the conventional sense, is great. Each member of Broken Lizard is great in this film, though I particularly love Eric Stolhanske as Freaky Reaky, he's just a fun character and easily on the level with Farva from Super Troopers, another character who is just out there and weird. Heffernan and Soter are great as Grogan and Matt, the two characters that set this story into motion. They are the comic relief of this movie and they pull it off nicely.
Jay Chandrasekhar plays the best friend character of the movie and it's always great to see Jay, since I know he must really be talented cause he's able to direct while acting in the movies, which is a treat (I get a kick out of actor directors for some reason).
And finally, we get to the main character. Felix, played by Steve Lemme. This character is so far removed from Mac in Super Troopers, and even Jaun in Club Dread that you'd almost mistake them for different actors. Hell everyone in Broken Lizard is able to play completely different characters that if you didnt know all three movies were made by the same people, you might think it was five different actors in each movie (except for Paul Soter, as much as I like him he doesnt seem to change much from movie to movie).
Overall a must watch
mcmurtry-129 December 2005
This movie is not intended to be any sort of blockbuster or indie prodigy.
It was produced for roughly $250,000 and shows it. However, what it DOES do is show hidden raw talent these guys have. This movie won a award for a reason and while it didn't get picked up (I don't think it should have), it did prove that if given more money the Broken Lizard guys could produce something amazing (aka super troopers).
The movie itself is worth renting (I bought it for the audio commentary which is very interesting to me). Some of the jokes are dry and not funny but the few that are will have you out of the seat. The on going joke about the phone number is really clever and some of the one liners are just great and in Broken Lizard style (I love the answering machine).
If you take a chance to listen to the audio commentary you get a chance to see some of the real gems of the movie (such as did you know Steve Lemme was caught red handed breaking into the same cafeteria as a sophomore or that Jay Chandrasekhar really did get people to go see the northern lights to get a girl only to have them not appear - he did get the girl though).
This movie is rough and is not perfect but it is worth seeing.
It was produced for roughly $250,000 and shows it. However, what it DOES do is show hidden raw talent these guys have. This movie won a award for a reason and while it didn't get picked up (I don't think it should have), it did prove that if given more money the Broken Lizard guys could produce something amazing (aka super troopers).
The movie itself is worth renting (I bought it for the audio commentary which is very interesting to me). Some of the jokes are dry and not funny but the few that are will have you out of the seat. The on going joke about the phone number is really clever and some of the one liners are just great and in Broken Lizard style (I love the answering machine).
If you take a chance to listen to the audio commentary you get a chance to see some of the real gems of the movie (such as did you know Steve Lemme was caught red handed breaking into the same cafeteria as a sophomore or that Jay Chandrasekhar really did get people to go see the northern lights to get a girl only to have them not appear - he did get the girl though).
This movie is rough and is not perfect but it is worth seeing.
Hilarious college comedy rivaling PCU in mischievous antics!
mattandrus5 February 2002
This movie is absolutely hilarious. I saw this for the first time when Broken Lizard was on their nationwide tour and I had to tape it when it came on the Sundance Channel so I could watch it again and again. You can tell that all the actors (most of whom are also the writers) have a natural comedic talent and despite the slow movement of the early scenes, everyone really shines by the end. The scenes involving 'Grogan' (Kevin Heffernan) and 'Matt' (Paul Soter) are priceless as they do everything they can to make each other's lives miserable, despite the fact that they are inseparable. And 'Zach' (Jay Chandrasekhar- director) has perhaps the best timing of them all with his deadpan delivery of lines. With "Super Troopers" releasing nationwide this year, I expect to see a lot more of these guys and can't wait for their next film.
Comedy About College Done Right . . . Pretty Much
D_Burke14 January 2009
"Puddle Cruiser" is a very funny movie, and it surprised me how good it was when I saw it. I saw the movie recently after seeing Broken Lizards other three more recent and more popular movies. There was the hilarious "Super Troopers" (2001), the not-quite-as-funny follow-up "Club Dread"(2004), and the redeemingly funny "Beerfest" (2006).
One of my friends had a DVD copy of "Puddle Cruiser" which had the cover art stating "From the guys who brought you 'Super Troopers'". I read the description on the back and thought that because this movie takes place on a college campus, it could be either really good, or really bad.
One problem with movie comedies that take place in college is that it seems as though the movie makers want to make another "Animal House". Hence, they inundate the movie with binge drinking, dumb frat guys with no apparent study habits or visible means of income, bikini-clad girls with similar ambitions, and the tired misconception that college is one big 24-hour orgy. Mind you "Animal House" was a great movie, and one of the Top 10 best comedies of the last 50 years. However, when other filmmakers try to top the "Animal House" antics with outrageous stunts, they forget one main ingredient: actual genuine humor.
Fortunately, to Broken Lizard's credit, they made here a smart college movie with absolutely no ambition to be the next "Animal House". They made a college comedy on their own terms, and the results are surprisingly good.
The characters in the film are well developed and often times appealing, even when they're dislikeable (the character of Traci Shannon comes particularly to mind here). They're also memorable with a slew of unforgettable lines. My personal favorite characters include Freaky Reaky (Erik Stolhanske), the mailroom worker who talks like a late night DJ, and Emily (Alison Clapp), the hottie's best friend who really sells each scene she's in. It's surprising that this movie is Clapp's only movie credit to date. All the performances are relatively consistent, and that's rare for a movie made by first timers.
The scene at the end is probably the best, when the big rugby match is about to be played. Not only does it start out very funny with a scene that deliberately spoofs "Spartacus" (1960), but the game commences in a very unpredictable way. It still has me laughing weeks after seeing it.
What differentiates this film from "Super Troopers" is the fact that the humor is very deadpan. There isn't as many visual gags, nor is there as much swearing, as in Broken Lizard's breakthrough cult hit. It also seems as though each member of Broken Lizard takes turns in each movie playing the straight man and the funny man. The character Steve Lemme plays in "Puddle Cruiser" is mild mannered, likable, and slightly naive, far different from the slightly dumb risk taker he later played in "Super Troopers". I could go on forever with comparisons between the two movies, but the films should really be watched side by side because they are funny differently, but equally.
Regardless of whether you've seen "Super Troopers" already, this film is worth checking out. I'm not sure its cult status, but it deserves to be recognized for the incredibly funny movie it is. I highly recommend it.
One of my friends had a DVD copy of "Puddle Cruiser" which had the cover art stating "From the guys who brought you 'Super Troopers'". I read the description on the back and thought that because this movie takes place on a college campus, it could be either really good, or really bad.
One problem with movie comedies that take place in college is that it seems as though the movie makers want to make another "Animal House". Hence, they inundate the movie with binge drinking, dumb frat guys with no apparent study habits or visible means of income, bikini-clad girls with similar ambitions, and the tired misconception that college is one big 24-hour orgy. Mind you "Animal House" was a great movie, and one of the Top 10 best comedies of the last 50 years. However, when other filmmakers try to top the "Animal House" antics with outrageous stunts, they forget one main ingredient: actual genuine humor.
Fortunately, to Broken Lizard's credit, they made here a smart college movie with absolutely no ambition to be the next "Animal House". They made a college comedy on their own terms, and the results are surprisingly good.
The characters in the film are well developed and often times appealing, even when they're dislikeable (the character of Traci Shannon comes particularly to mind here). They're also memorable with a slew of unforgettable lines. My personal favorite characters include Freaky Reaky (Erik Stolhanske), the mailroom worker who talks like a late night DJ, and Emily (Alison Clapp), the hottie's best friend who really sells each scene she's in. It's surprising that this movie is Clapp's only movie credit to date. All the performances are relatively consistent, and that's rare for a movie made by first timers.
The scene at the end is probably the best, when the big rugby match is about to be played. Not only does it start out very funny with a scene that deliberately spoofs "Spartacus" (1960), but the game commences in a very unpredictable way. It still has me laughing weeks after seeing it.
What differentiates this film from "Super Troopers" is the fact that the humor is very deadpan. There isn't as many visual gags, nor is there as much swearing, as in Broken Lizard's breakthrough cult hit. It also seems as though each member of Broken Lizard takes turns in each movie playing the straight man and the funny man. The character Steve Lemme plays in "Puddle Cruiser" is mild mannered, likable, and slightly naive, far different from the slightly dumb risk taker he later played in "Super Troopers". I could go on forever with comparisons between the two movies, but the films should really be watched side by side because they are funny differently, but equally.
Regardless of whether you've seen "Super Troopers" already, this film is worth checking out. I'm not sure its cult status, but it deserves to be recognized for the incredibly funny movie it is. I highly recommend it.
This film needs to be released on DVD!
mntoyx47 July 2003
I watched this film via CinemaNow.COM today and it was a good laugh. No, it is not as funny as Supertroopers but it is funny and should be released. The film has screened on Sundance Channel but not for a long time now. Send Sundance a request to show it. I did.
The Broken Lizard group is fabulous! Keep up the good work guys. You have many MANY fans!
The Broken Lizard group is fabulous! Keep up the good work guys. You have many MANY fans!
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