God Bless America starts off with a bang! Let me just put out the obvious...this movie is suited for slightly irritated liberals with above average intelligence. Everyone else will either be too offended or won't understand it completely. It's an uncomfortable ripping of American mainstream life. As you watch "reality TV" depicted in this movie, you're automatically inclined to think it's in parody form; yet you realize it's a completely accurate portrayal of what's going on in modern society. Within the first seven minutes you depressingly discern that American entertainment reality has become a parody of itself.
Frank, played by Joel Murray, is frustrated with his life and society in general. He successfully shares his frustration to the point where you want to punch a lot of people in the face; including his daughter. Frank takes a more drastic approach but you can't help but agree with a lot of what he says.
The first 30 minutes of the movie moves a little slow, but it's fascinating. Tara Lynn Barr as Roxy is simply awesome and she puts a needed amount of ferocious psychotic energy into this otherwise mellow movie. She's so blunt, completely neurotic, and reminds you a little of Wednesday Addams. Roxy and Frank's relationship is effortless because Murray and Barr balance each other well.
This movie is extremely negative but highly amusing in a matter-of-fact shocking manner. It sometimes comes off as a complaint riddled mess, but that's where the above average intelligence comes in to decipher it as a whole; which then leads to a kind of arrogance and anger that leaves you with a disturbingly fun vicarious satisfaction.
On a minor note, the blood sometimes looks like orange paint but it's easily forgiven because again, you have to look at the big picture. There are many social and political layers. If you focus on the impossibilities of the minor details, it will distract you from the story. In addition, if you find yourself asking how they're not caught at certain times, turn it off, you're too fucking stupid for this movie.
Don't get in a huff pickle! That last line, while true, is an ode to the movie.
On a scale of 1-10, God Bless America: 8.5
with distinction: underrated.
Scene Spotlight: Frank, Roxy, and Fuller.
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