Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

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

Tucker and Dale Vs Evil (2011) Directed by Eli Craig

"Oh hidy ho officer, we've had a doozy of a day. There we were minding our own business, just doing chores around the house, when kids started killing themselves all over my property."-Tucker

It strikes me that this might be much closer to the truth than all the killer hillbilly movies that are out there.  Instead of being from the point of view of the college kid victims or the inbred killers, it is from both their perspectives, and nothing is as anyone thinks it is.  Think of it as a reverse Rashomon, with a wood chipper.

Excitement hangs heavy in the air; a group of college kids are taking spring break in the woods.  At the same time, Tucker and Dale (Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine) have finally made a dream come true; a vacation home, a quaint little cabin in the woods, and it is all theirs.

Of the two, Tucker is the more outgoing; Dale is a bit shy, a bit lacking in self esteem.  So when both parties stop at a local flyspeck convenience store, Tucker tries to bolster Dale's self esteem enough to talk to the lovely college girls.  In retrospect, it might have gone better if Dale hadn't dragged along the scythe he was carrying.  Now the kids are convinced that the hills are infested with mouth breathing hillbillies with farm implements of mass destruction.

That does not prompt them to go home, or even stop them from skinny dipping (I use the turn loosely; no one gets out of their underwear) but when Allison (Katrina Bowden) spots Tucker and Dale watching from their fishing boat, she screams, and falls in the water.

What Tucker and Dale see: a girl has fallen in the water and has not come up.  They go to rescue her.

What the Preppy College Kids see: Allison being hauled into a boat by a couple of killer hicks.

And it doesn't get better.  The college kids go looking for Allison, and find the cabin at about the same time Tucker is in the back, taking a chainsaw to some of the dead wood around the place.  There is a hornet's nest in the log he is sawing, so ...

What Tucker and Dale see: Tucker is being swarmed by bees, and he is swiping at them and trying to outrun their stinging fury.

What the Preppy College Kids see: A crazy man comes running from around the building waving a running chainsaw above his head.  They take off.  So does Tucker.  Mitch (Adam Beauchesne) is terrified as Tucker closes the gap with him.  Then he is puzzled as Tucker over takes him, and passes him by.  But he should have been watching where he was running, not Tucker.  Maybe then he wouldn't have impaled himself on that deadfall.

In the meantime, Allison has awoken and discovered not only is Dale not dangerous, he is smarter than he looks.  (He would pretty much have to be.)  Anyway, back amongst the PCKs we begin to get a look at Chad's (Jesse Moss) true character.  If this were Deliverance, he would be Burt Reynolds.

It just sort of works backwards and forwards, each side escalating things, often unintentionally.  And each horrible grisly death is funnier than the one before.

Like I said, this is not your standard slasher kills the college kids movie.  It is far better, and far funnier.  And oddly enough, it is a better slasher film than many out there.  Most even.  And certainly funnier. 

I want to acknowledge Chloe (Chelan Simmons) the ditzy blond who spends the entire movie running in stipper shoes screaming.  Her distillation of every bubble headed blond destined to die horribly is perfect, and her comedic timing is flawless.

Tucker and Dale themselves are the real stars.  Alan Tudyk is a highly underappreciated star, and I think I will be looking for more of Tyler Labine's work.  Their chemistry together is wonderful.  And speaking of chemistry; there is a love story buried amongst the pile of dismembered corpses.  And it works.

The perfect love story...with a high body count.

Recommend this product? Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age