Postal (DVD/Blu-ray)
Steve Barton
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Reviewed by Uncle Creepy
Starring Zack Ward, Dave Foley, Chris Coppola, Michael Benyaer, Jackie Tohn, Erick Avari, Verne Troyer, Uwe Boll
Directed by Uwe Boll
Distributed by Vivendi Entertainment
Uwe Boll has developed the reputation as being one of our lifetime’s craziest directors. He’s made a career out of filming bad video game adaptations for the big screen and, when he was crucified by critics for years on end, challenged them all to a boxing match. In the end he kicked every one of the asses of those with the gumption to show up. Simply put, he’s out of control so who better to tackle the live action version of one of the most controversial PC games of all time, Postal? No one. This film comes as a big surprise, not because of how tasteless it is (there truly is something to offend everyone in it), but by how good it actually turned out. Allow me to introduce you all to Uwe Boll, comic super-genius.
Though it doesn’t follow any specific narrative from the game and didn’t need to, Postal centers upon the exploits of a poor, trailer park living, down on his luck loser known in the film only as Postal Dude (Ward). The shit has really hit the fan not only for our hero but for his Uncle Dave (Foley) as well. They’re both in a financial pickle, and the only way out of it is to hijack a shipment of Krotchy dolls (the season’s hot item) from an amusement park called Little Germany that Boll himself runs. The only problem? Osama Bin Laden has the same idea, and before you know it, there are guns blazing, children killed in slow motion, babies run over, cats violated, and anything else you could possibly think of to make even the most jaded of individuals ponder whether or not what they’re watching goes too far, relentlessly hurled at you.
This is poor taste nirvana! A movie that proudly represents the lowest common denominator’s sense of humor and amps up the lunacy to eleven for the entire ride. The most staggering thing about the movie? No matter how low-brow the gags get, they are handled in the most ironically intelligent manner possible. Postal has a lot to say about the times that we live in, and it holds up a mirror to society that few possess the balls to look into. The only really bad thing I can say about it is that at a length of nearly an hour and forty-five minutes, things seem to go on for just a bit too long. But then as soon as Postal has worn out its welcome, Boll hits us with another one-two punch of hilarity and absurdity.
Speaking of punches, the DVD and the Blu-ray editions are packing the same features, one of which is titled Raging Boll. It gives us nearly fifteen minutes of Boll beating the shit out of critics from Ain’t it Cool, Rue Morgue, Something Awful, etc. Boll don’t play. This wasn’t a stunt for him. It was time for some payback, and he pummels everyone in his path of rage. Outstanding! From there we get a great commentary and a clip of Verne Troyer dressed as Indiana Jones laying down the gauntlet to Spielberg and company. Really funny stuff! The only problem? That’s all there is! In this time of Blu-ray interactive technology, I found myself wanting more. I guess that’s a good thing? Who knows.
For a few extra kicks the full version of Postal 2 is included on a separate disc so at the very least we can get out own Cat Silencers for ourselves.
Postal is a must see if you have skin thick enough to handle it. It is an uncompromising, unabashed descent into video hell that will have you laughing one moment and wondering “What the fuck is wrong with this guy?” the next! From a technical standpoint I can only hand it four stabbies, but from a “WTF” point of view, it is completely flawless. Bravo, Dr. Boll. Bravo!
Special Features
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Special Features
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2 1/2 out of 5
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