Mr. Dungbeetle (2005) User Reviews

Fairly Good Movie.

[filmguyz · 7/10 · 22 February 2007]

I saw the movie at a private screening in Pueblo that one of the actors (Clay) put on. I think he was a producer too. The best part about the film was the storyline. It made me laugh and was pretty well written, although it did drag in places. A good family film, no cursing, swearing, etc. very little violence. Probably get a PG rating (IF it ever comes out).

The camera work was pretty good, although the color, sound and lighting was distracting. To the producer's credit, Clay said this wasn't a "finished" piece yet... So why was he showing something that wasn't ready?? Doesn't make sense to me. Bad move.

The acting was fairly good for the most part. Some weak areas with some of the minor speaking roles, and the casting (outside of the main characters and a couple others) was WEAK! The casting director must've used their friends and family! Ha! But the biggest problem with this film was that there was no big name actors attached to the project. Nothing to draw in an audience. The biggest person they had in this movie was the doctor who had a VERY small role in Arachnophobia and a couple other movies. Big deal. You can get away with that in a horror film, but not something like this.

Other than that, it was worth watching. Honestly, I'd rent it. Wouldn't pay to see it in the movie theater without any big names, but I'd rent it. On a side note, I know that it was a local production company that shot it, just a little sad that they didn't shoot it in their home town (here in Pueblo), there wasn't anything in the movie that couldn't have been filmed here. Bad choice.

Over all... 7 stars... 8 if the popcorn is REALLY good!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with more laughs and a stronger message of empowerment.

[linwood24 · 10/10 · 22 June 2006]

I saw this film at the Mendocino Film Festival. Everyone who saw the movie in Mendocino raved, not just talked-up, RAVED about it. After the encore showing, it received a 3 minute standing ovation as people wiped away tears! It is magic. It is thought provoking. It makes you laugh. It makes you cry. It makes you FEEL! Anyone who has had a loved-one pass away will be positively affected after viewing this film. If it were a book, it would be number 1 on Oprah's list! The story is about mental patients who escape the institution and find the cure for their ailments has been inside them all along. It is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with more laughs and a stronger message of empowerment. Once the general public is given a chance to see Mr. Dung Beetle ( if it ever gets distributed ) it will take Hollywood by storm. I am a 53 year-old movie buff and this is one of the top 3 films I have ever seen.

Hilarious, moving and just great!!!

[spurton · 10/10 · 2 June 2006]

This is one of the best movies I have watched in a VERY long time. The cinematography was beautiful, the plot was intelligent and very thought-provoking. It was painfully funny and a tear-jerker at the same time. I can't wait to see it again. I wish I could purchase it on DVD, otherwise I am going to have to drag my friends and family to the next screening. I can see this movie getting very popular. I also loved the fact that it was clean enough that I can bring my whole family to watch it. There is no foul language or nudity. The soundtrack was excellent! There are some good bands on it as well as some indie artists I have never heard of. Be sure to check this movie out when you get the chance. It will be well worth it.

No Cuckoo's Nest

[whollycow · 5/10 · 1 July 2018]

Well-intentioned but ultimately disappointing effort. Nice performances by all involved, but there just is no story here.

Why is this movie not being distributed?

[shake_n_bake83 · 10/10 · 29 December 2006]

I was fortunate enough to go to the cast/crew screening of this film. It is one of the most moving and thought provoking films I have ever seen. Hollywood doesn't want people to think or to feel. They only want to cram as much glitter and eye candy as they can into 90 minutes. This could be and should be a huge hit at the box office, but isn't picked up because it's not what Hollywood is looking for. If a movie doesn't fit the norm or doesn't have enough big names in it, it is hard to get a distributor for it. It's a shame. Mr. Dungbeetle will have you laughing and crying at the same time. It will touch your heart and lift your spirits. This movie is not mindless dribble. It is a soul searching and bears the mark of its maker. Rarely do you find a film that exhibits so much of the maker's own life, trials, troubles, and discoveries. All I have to say is great job Tom and everyone else that made this movie one of the best of all time.

Soul-stirring Comedy

[elainwitt · 9/10 · 18 January 2007]

If Don Quixote lived in the 21st century, he surely would have been committed to a mental institution--probably one similar to the opening scenes in this unvarnished and openly human film. Let's hope that the Man of La Mancha would have escaped and had the splendid adventures told in Mr. Dungbeetle. How sanity is measured or identified remains a multi-generational cultural enigma, one that is adeptly explored in this film but never explained.

The powerful absurdities revealed in the terse and memorable dialog anchor a remarkable story of self-discovery that never becomes reckless or cloying. You never feel you are being force-fed an agenda; rather you find yourself on the quixotic adventures as a co-traveler. Expect both laughter and tears as the story takes its expertly crafted verbal turns.

One of the most charming and quotable indie films I've ever seen.

Excellent

[RickGabbitas · 10/10 · 16 February 2009]

This is truly an excellent movie. It is one of my favorite movies of all time. It raises some interesting questions, while making you laugh ... a lot. I saw it at a screening a few years ago with my wife and wish I could share it with others. It is very similar to "Mental" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0791128/), but even better. This is so much better than a vast majority of what Hollywood normally puts out. Someone needs to pick this movie up and make it widely available so more people can share this wonderful, funny, thought-provoking film. I am not an 'insider' to the world of 'indies' and don't know the details of what it takes to get a movie like this into theaters and onto DVD, but everyone I know who has seen it has absolutely loved. I would readily pay full price admission to see this movie again (and that says a lot coming from me - I don't even like paying matinée prices).

Makes you think for days later

[theeshopper · 10/10 · 17 March 2007]

When you see a movie and you leave not sure if you love it or not, wait 24 hours... if you cannot get it out of your head and little insights keeps coming back to you, you realize that its a brilliant movie! This movie has continued in my thoughts and the meaning keeps embedding itself in my mind. Brilliant!

I am most impressed with the positive feeling it leaves you about facing your fears and allowing yourself to change and heal. At first you feel like there is no way to relate to these characters, and are even a bit uneasy "hanging out" in a movie with crazy guys. By the end of the movie, they are not only endearing, you see yourself wishing you were friends with them.

wonderful film

[jon_av1 · 9/10 · 21 March 2006]

I saw this film at a screening on the BYU campus earlier this year, and I truly enjoyed this film. I talked my sister into seeing it with me, and we stood in line for an hour and a half so we could get on the "waiting list," and we were not disappointed. It was refreshing to be able to enjoy a film that had humor (a great deal of it, too) and a good message without all of the sexual content and graphic language that is prevalent in many of today's films. I hope it finds a distributor soon, because I have told my friends about it, and they too are excited to see this movie (I am looking forward to seeing it again). I look forward to being able to say a line from the movie and have others say,"oh yeah, that's from Mr. Dungbeetle!" A charming film that deserves to be recognized.

Do not judge this film by its cover (or IMDB rating)

[Amthermandes · 10/10 · 28 March 2018]

I cannot comprehend how this film has a 5.6 rating. It's one of the most inspirational indie films I've ever seen. It's so well done, and everybody involved in it (especially the actors and director) does a phenomenal job.

Mr. Dungbeetle is such an innocent film, a group of mental institution escapees go out on an unsupervised (for a little while) adventure into nature, where they admire the beauty surrounding them, as well as the beauty dwelling within themselves. This is a movie about seemingly flawed individuals who find self worth and meaning. They are adults, but yet so charmingly childish, it makes the audience feel like a youth themselves.

It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think about it ever since then, it leaves an impact on you. You get lost in the story and the characters. I agree with another user, who in their review related it to "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Quite an accurate comparison, Mr. Dungbeetle is like its younger, inexperienced yet unsoiled sibling.

DO NOT just brush past this one, it most certainly deserves the entire public's attention. More and more folks these days are realizing that indie films now are just as good if not better than Hollywood box office films, in both quality and themes: this is the age of independent cinema. And Mr. Dungbeetle is an excellent ambassador for it.