Plot: What’s it about?
Tim and Eric were given a one billion dollar film production budget, but once the money has been spent, all they have to show is three minutes of footage. The two spent a billion dollars on makeovers, a celebrity impersonator, a spiritual advisor, a suit made of diamonds, and countless other nonsense, but very little on the film itself. The financiers at Schlaang Corporation intent to exact payback for this in a most brutal fashion, with plans to kill Tim and Eric. The pair panics, but sees a television ad that promises one billion dollars to turn a failing mall around, so the solution seems within reach. Once they arrive however, they discover a run down, ramshackle mall filled with unprofitable businesses. The sword seller who doesn’t want to sell his blades, the used toilet paper vendor, and of course, the wild wolf all seem to be obstacles. But Tim and Eric are determined, so they begin to clean the place up and make some changes. Can even a dedicated, motivated team like Tim and Eric return the mall to glory however, even as they deal with the ups and downs of love, friendship, and fatherhood?
As a fan of Tim and Eric’s previous work, I knew a feature length film could be troublesome. The awkward, random humor of their shows works so well because the doses are small, just enough time to laugh and move on. An entire episode of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job was eleven minutes, for example. While I had some reservations, Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie works and is solid entertainment. As you might expect, the film packs in a lot of familiar elements to put fans at ease, but then runs off the rails at times. While more segmented than most traditional films, this is still a linear story at heart, so don’t count on a series of vignettes like the shows. The usual head scratching moments, random nonsense, and awkward celebrity performances are on deck, but even devoted fans might not love the film as a whole. The whole “humor without humor” is tested by fire in Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie and I think it succeeds. I can understand why some of their fans will dislike it, but I think it turns out to be just the kind of schizophrenic experience you want from Tim and Eric.
Video: How does it look?
Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen. This is a good transfer, but doesn’t stand out as overly refined or remarkable. The visuals have good detail, but not the kind of depth we want from high definition, as subtle detail remains mediocre in most scenes. I did find colors to be bright and natural, which helps kick the image up a little, while contrast is spot on from start to finish. So not a bad treatment at all, but not as detailed as we’d like.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a dialogue driven movie, but there is still some room for this DTS HD 5.1 soundtrack to show off. The result still isn’t going to shatter your windows or what not, but the track has presence when it is required. The music is active and makes good use the surrounds, but the real focus is on dialogue. All the vocals are crystal clear, with no volume issues or harshness to contend with. So a more than solid soundtrack overall. This disc also includes English and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In addition to the audio comments from Tim and Eric, you’ll find deleted scenes, a Tim and Eric interview, posters & artwork, several featurettes, and the film’s theatrical trailers.
