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Scene:
A small Pennsylvania town, 1977.
Interior: A modest Hamburger Shack, "Duncans."
Music: any song by "Bad Company" [plays over the scene.]
"Scotland, PA" is a film about fast food, responsiblity
and betrayal. Oh - and the invention of the fast food drive-thru.
Joe "Mac" McBeth (an Irish surname, by the way) is the head
line cook at a small Pennsylvania hamburger shack, recently opened
by local donut entrepeneur and widower Norm Duncan. The restaurant
is a popular local joint, staffed by Mac, Norm's 2 teenage sons, Mac's
wife Pat, Mac's dense friend Banco, and Doug, an incompetant Manager
who hides from any responsibility. When Doug is caught stealing from
the business, a door of opportunity opens for Mac and Pat - he's a
clever guy with ideas, but stuck on the third rung down of a very
short ladder. When Doug is fired, the McBeths see an opportunity to
better their situation: Mac is clearly the best choice to replace
Doug - but Norm passes him over, rewarding Mac with an assistant position
beneath his stoner son, Malcolm - who doesn't want the job anyway.
A series of clumsy events pass, and the jilted McBeths come up with
a plan: kill Norm Duncan, and take over the restaurant. And that's
what happens. In the meantime, Mac starts having bizarre meetings
with 3 fortune-telling druggie hippies who speak in rhyme.
Foolishly, he starts giving far too much credit to these advisors.
Upon Norm's death (by fryelator), his sons inherit the business. Malcolm
just wants to jam with his cover band. His brother, favored son Donald
- just wants to be left alone to "find himself" and "explore
his sexuality". Malcolm gives Mac the restaurant, and it becomes
a tremendous success - in great part due to the installation of Drive-up
service, an idea initiated by the 3 hippies, and then a short-sighted
Norm.
Enter: Police Investigator Lieutenant McDuff, who investigates Norm
Duncan's death - and eyes the McBeth's suspiciously.
Ultimately, lots of people die, including the McBeths.
The End.
This is a very funny movie. Black as Othello, Gruesome as MacBeth.
Wait a second. . . "Mc" Beth. . . "Mac" Beth.
. . heyyyy. . . Maybe this is an adaption of Shakespeare's tragedy
"MacBeth!" Yeah, duh. But you don't need to know that to
enjoy the film. The play is very well adapted by first-time director
Billy Morrissette, who casted his wife Maura Tierney (forever to be
known as Lisa from "News Radio") as Pat McBeth. She's amazing
as a character who is sexy, ruthless and somehow sympathetic. The
independant film contingent of the cast are James LeGros as Mac, and
Kevin Corrigan as Banco. If you've seen "Point Break" and
"Slums of Beverly Hills" - among many films of lower budgets
- you'll recognize them. The one brilliant bit of stunt casting is
Christopher Walken as vegetarian cop Lt. McDuff. One just hasn't lived
until you've heard Walken pronounce: "Babaganouj - it's a --
vegetarian, dish made -- with EGGplant . . ." He's brilliant,
and this role makes you wonder why he doesn't do more comedy. Incidentally
- Andy Dick & "Road Trip" cutie Amy Smart show up as
2 of the 3 hippies (um - "witches").
It's a weird mix of a film - satiric 70's parody - and DARK tragic
comedy.
Well worth a rental fee. Especially if you enjoy Bad Company every
once in a while. And, really, who doesn't?
(don't answer that.)
IAN
- APRIL 17, 2003
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