Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

With the recent release of the sequel to the Farrelly Brother’s 1994 comedy classic “Dumb & Dumber” entitled “Dumb & Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd”, it seemed the age of lowbrow comedy has reached new lows. While the one exception in those recent years from mainstream films was Steve Oedekerk’s “Kung Pow”, films like “Freddie Got Fingered”, “Slackers”, and “Sorority Boys” were all panned by critics and bombed in the box office and didn’t even survive the chance to be in cult status. For some fans of comedy, there was a need for some well-written comedy and that wasn’t going well from the likes of “Saturday Night Live” that never made a great comedy since “Wayne’s World” back in late 1991. Some were forced to go back to the old movies the British comedy troupe Monty Python made like “Monty Python & the Holy Grail”, “The Life of Brian” and “The Meaning of Life”. In late 2001/early 2002, there was one film that did make a mark quietly through the independent film circuit from a brash, anarchic comedy troupe called Broken Lizard that is now becoming the new kings of underground comedy with their 2001 film “Super Troopers”.

The troupe of Broken Lizard consists of Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske. With Chandrasekhar leading the troupe as their film director, the Broken Lizard troupe has made a reputation already as the bad comedy boys of independent film, notably with Sundance. In 1996, the troupe released “Puddle Cruiser” to obscurity although it won praises of fans that enjoyed smart, lowbrow comedy and was a hit with the college crowd. While the films weren’t well received with critics, they have made a name for themselves with their brash approach to lowbrow comedy while touring around colleges to do their comedy routine. In 2001, the troupe got a chance to do another movie that would increase their cult status with “Super Troopers”.

“Super Troopers” is a simple police comedy with brash jokes, mindless gags, and silly antics about a group of Vermont Highway State Patrol officers trying to save their jobs from a rival police group while investigating a drug bust and causing chaos wherever they go. Written by the troupe and directed by Chandrasekhar, “Super Troopers” is a completely different from mainstream lowbrow comedies since the jokes are simpler and smarter in their approach while disguising it to look dumb. Add the likes of newcomer Marisa Coughlin and veterans Daniel Von Bargen and Brian Cox, the film is filled with funny moments as well as well-acted performances from the troupe. While the jokes might be a little silly or flat for some, “Super Troopers” is a notable breakthrough from one of independent films best-kept secrets.

The film begins with three stoners (Joey Kern, Andre Vippolis, and Geoffrey Arend) driving around the Vermont state highway near the Canadian border. They are then chased by two Highway State Patrol officers, a smart, Indian name Thorny (Jay Chandrasekhar) and a fresh-face rookie name Rabbit (Erik Stolhanske) who both stop them as the stoners try to hide the pot. The stoners thought they got away with it until they’re being pursued by two crazy Highway State Patrol officers including the crazy Mac (Steve Lemme) and the lovable Foster (Paul Soter) while they report the stoners to their fat, by-the-book officer Farvra (Kevin Heffernan). That’s where the troupe show their crazy antics as they keep making fun of Farvra for his suspension after a bad encounter with a school bus.

While the gang at the Highway State Patrol have a lot of fun, it’s probably because they’re not given the chance to do much since they’re work is always done by the rival local police led by their chief, Grady (Daniel Von Bargen) who likes to make fun of Thorny and whatever race he does but Thorny let it slides. Thorny and Rabbit try to get their job done as they and the rest of their crew check out a motor home as a first of series of brawls between the Highway State Patrol and local cops ensue. For the Patrol’s leader, Captain O’Hagan (Brian Cox), it was something he could no longer tolerate. He’s tired of his fellow officers screwing up and he gives the gang some bad news that the state’s budget is going through cutbacks and one major casualty might be their Highway State Patrol precinct.

For the gang, it looks like a bleak time as they try to figure out what they should do if they lose their jobs. Thorny is the one most concerned since he has a girlfriend Bobbi (Amy de Lucia) and cares for her kid Arlo (Christian Albrizio) while Foster is trying to pursue the local cop’s sole female Ursula Hanson (Marisa Coughlin) at a kid’s baseball game. One day, Thorny and Rabbit find a huge truck as they later get locked in and found a huge load of marijuana with Foster and Mac. They report to O’Hagan and the town’s mayor (John Bedford Lloyd) as it’s a good sign that O’Hagan and company might not lose to their job once the mayor convinces the state governor (Lynda Carter). Still, it wasn’t enough for the boys to do their wild antics.

While on another assignment, Thorny and Rabbit stop a fast car driven by a German couple (Philippe Brenninkmeyer & Maria Tornberg) and Rabbit gets seduced by the German woman as he wants to make out with her and stuff. Thorny learns the car is stolen as they take the couple to their precinct while Foster is trying to make moves towards Ursula as O’Hagan seeks the help of Grady over their recent drug bust. Still, the boys have time to have fun when Foster decided to flash Ursula as they make out in the motor home the gang had brawled in earlier where they discover more marijuana. Rabbit meanwhile decides to test out the stolen car they got as he interrupts a private moment for Mac but gets busted by Farvra while exceeding the speed limit.

For Rabbit, Farvra busting him was bad as Farvra was back on the squad to handle duties with Thorny while Mac and Foster try to figure out how to drive a huge truck. Unfortunately, Farvra is still a pain in the *ss as he decides to stop an old couple (his real-life parents) and says “License and registration, chicken f*ckers”. For Thorny, Farvra as a partner was bad since Farvra likes to cause trouble and he does after giving the fast food patrons a hard time and in response, they put a hole in his cola and Farvra beats up the cashier. He gets in even more trouble with the local police who threw powder sugar and all this crap at him while Grady talks to him about a proposition. O’Hagan suspends Farvra and puts him on janitorial duties while Mac decides to test out a bulletproof jockstrap where the boys shoot him in the nuts to major extremes.

Still, it troubles O’Hagan as he tries to save his own job and the rest of his troops job as the gang wants to uncover more marijuana to show to the governor. They decided to steal the motor home while Rabbit causes a sensation to distract the local cops. Farvra unfortunately goes into a drunken binge and cause trouble for the gang as the local cops decide to one up them on their game and it was time for the troopers and cops to duke it out for good.

While the humor might be too brash or silly for some fans of comedy, the Broken Lizard’s approach is undeniably appealing since the gang goes for old-school frat-boy and cop humor. The antics alone are family while each member of the troupe stands out on their own. My favorite was Farvra played by Kevin Heffernan who just belt out great one-liners while being the butt of every joke in the sketch. Steve Lemme’s role as Mac is another standout since the guy goes to every extreme to be funny while Paul Soter’s role as the lovable Foster is enjoyable, especially in his scenes with Coughlin that were fun to watch as they try to get it on in a jail cell or a cop’s car. Erik Stolhanske’s role as Rabbit is another standout as the fresh-faced rookie who tries to avoid a few jokes while being horny over the German woman. Jay Chandrasekhar’s role as the straight-laced Thorny is filled with brilliance as he plays the straight man perfectly.

Daniel Von Bargen’s role as Grady is enjoyable since he captures the idea of an elitist, *sshole chief while the real-scene stealer of the film is veteran Brian Cox. Cox as the hard-nosed O’Hagan is one of his best roles as he acts as a cool authority figure who later gets sh*tfaced on booze that is another of many standout roles in such films as “Adaptation”, “X-Men 2”, and as the original Hannibal Lecter in “Manhunter”. With great car chase scenes, hilarious, juvenile antics, and some fun music provided by the Southern rock band .38 Special, it’s easily one of the best comedies in the past few years.

While some might find the humor to be a bit flat or silly, “Super Troopers” is easily one of the smartest lowbrow comedies of the past few years. While it may have not won the hearts of some film critics, it’s already helping the Broken Lizard’s cult grow faster, just as their next film “Club Dredd” is now eagerly anticipated for a summer release this year. Besides, there is a need for some smart, well-written comedy after the debacle of “Dumb & Dumberer” has resulted. With an array of silly lowbrow films now insulting the intelligence of hardcore fans of comedy, “Super Troopers” is one of the most refreshing films of the past two years.

Related Film Reviews:

Adaptation (2002):

http://www.epinions.com/content_103371673220

Kung Pow! Enter the Fist (2002):

http://www.epinions.com/content_98780024452



Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older