Search - Chump Change on DVD

Best Comedy in Recent Memory

tmarkus | janesville, WI, United States | 11/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a remarkably funny and scathingly sarcastic tale of a dreamer, "Milwaukee" Steve (Steve Burrows), who's bound and determined to make it in Hollywood as a writer/director. Locations are based between LA and Milwaukee, and the contrast couldn't be more ideal. Traci Lords is excellent as the unlikely love interest, as is the surprisingly well-known and first-rate supporting cast for an indie of Tim Matheson, (Otter in Animal House, playing a hyper-lunatic composite of every sleazy producer Milwaukee Steve's dealt with in Hollywood), Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, Fred Willard and A.J Benza as Steve's hilarious ass-kissing and fair-weather-friend agents, even Abe Vigoda as a French Spy. We grew up in the Milwaukee area, so we couldn't get enough of hundreds of quirky location shoots, eccentric corner quarter-tap bars and hangouts (Hollar House, tons more) that truly made the city fun and famous, and it doesn't matter if you're not from the area -- we brought friends with that weren't who still thought it was the funniest film they'd seen in years. To top it off, Steve spoke at the premiere and said the film is "roughly 98% true." I'm buying several copies of the DVD for gifts. Steve Burrows is a rare fresh force in comedy, his style unlike anything else in the tired stand-up/sitcom-star field. To paraphrase Tim Matheson, "I just love you, love your film...what was it called again?" What an incredible debut, expect great things from this guy."

One of the best DVDs ever released!

tmarkus | 01/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stephen Burrows' comedy masterpiece, Chump Change, delivers one hilarious laugh after another. The talented up-and-coming director captures great performances by all, including Jerry Stiller, Traci Lords, Tim Matheson, Fred Willard, and even Abe Vigoda. Even the most serious of all will find themselves laughing out loud as the film traces Burrows' adventures from the West Coast to the Midwest. Not only is the film itself tremendous, but the DVD is by far one of the best I own. Jam-packed with extras, including Director's Commentary, Director's Commentary on the Director's Commentary, and Focus Group Low-Lights (actual comments made by real people about the film), this DVD promises to entertain for hours! You won't be disappointed!"

Could it be? Funniest Movie in the History of Funny Movies?

tmarkus | 12/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No. That would be Blazing Saddles. HOWEVER, read on, as CHUMP CHANGE IS NOW ALSO ON MY TOP TEN LIST OF FAVORITE COMEDIES!

(And, to be totally honest with the readers of this review, yes, I do know the director, and consider myself a member of "The Army of Chump". But I'll take off my "friend hat" for the rest of the review, and shoot straight from the hip).Chump Change is an absolutely hilarious comedy. I'm buying a few copies of the DVD, not only for myself, but for my friends and family who missed the theatrical premiere! Also, the film is funny because it is so TRUE!Most of the film's storyline and anecdotes are based on writer/director/producer/actor Steve Burrows' real career in Hollywood. Steve has been a great actor in sit-coms and commercials for years, as also a great director of commercials and short films. I find it hard to believe that Steve jumped into a full length feature film wearing so many hats, and pulled off a classic comedy his first time out. I also think there will be quite a few lines from this movie heard on people's lips in late January! "Twitching" anyone?The other co-stars and cameo performances within the film are just as hilarious. Tim Matheson as the over-caffeinated movie producer; Traci Elizabeth Lords as a very sweet, funny, convincingly cynical Wisconsinite (you go girl!); smaller cameos by Jerry Stiller, Abe Vigoda (yes THE Abe Vigoda), Clancy Brown, Fred Willard, Ann Mira and many more. Great production values in both Wisconsin (very snowy, very kitschy) and Los Angeles (very bright, very "chic"). And a little bit of swearing. Did I mention Tim Matheson swearing. Lots of Swearing. Hilarious amounts of swearing. It felt like this ex-vice president from the West Wing just drank 40 gallons of coffee with Lee Ermy at breakfast. The script is well written, and well acted -- just plain funny. What more could you ask for? Well, the theatrical audience, where I saw the film at the Milwaukee International Film Festival in November 2003 (all 1000+ of us in the sellout crowd) got to ask for more. There was a great Q&A with Steve and Traci after the film, and although you'd think this was a 15 million dollar studio film, I'm pretty sure that you could have made 4 Chumps for the price of even one "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".So, remember that studio executives -- great films, and great comedies, can come from outside your big budget studio machines. This is a great one. Keep funding and distributing great films like this. You've set the bar pretty high, Steve, I'm sure even more Wisconsin filmmakers are up to the challenge of following in your footsteps!"

Excellent film with tons of laughs

tmarkus | 02/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Too inde to be mainstream, too mainstream to be inde: this is a great look at the absurdity of our obsession with pidgeon-holes and similar nonsense... I tend to think there is a lot less exageration in this film than would appear on the surface. The cover shot is goofy and misleading: this is a film about Steve Burroughs and his attempts to crack the Hollywood system, Tim Mathison is a supporting character. Anyhow, funny on a variety of levels. Destined to become a cult classic! Interesting soundtrack as well!"