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Mar 17, 2017 By Austin Trunick Fall 2001 - Grandaddy

Forceful knocking awakens aspiring bluegrass star Martin (Emile Hirsch) from his hangover-wracked slumber. On his doorstep is a concerned Mr. Gallo (J.K. Simmons), inquiring as to the whereabouts of his semi-estranged daughter, Ginnie (Analeigh Tipton.) Martin and Ginnie broke up months ago, and haven’t spoken since; Mr. Gallo, it turns out, hasn’t heard from her either. With mounting concern, the pair scour the hipster haunts of Los Angeles in search of clues that might tell them where the girl they both love could be.

What sounds like the setup for one of those bleak, Scandinavian noirs actually unrolls as zany comedy, its pitch mounting as our mismatched heroes interrogate Ginnie’s goofy friends and the night unfolds in unexpected ways. Simmons is able to skate through this comedy-mystery by being effortlessly intimidating; Hirsch is an amenable counter to his stern, no-nonsense presence, a bottomless supply of great reaction shots. The film owes a lot to its funny cast (rounded out by Kristen Schaal and Taran Killam) but unravels when it devolves too far into the madcap; by the time we’re watching a minor character hallucinate to a ‘90s alt-pop radio hit, it feels like the filmmakers ran out of ideas.

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Author rating: 5/10