Review: Monsters, Marriage and Murder in Manchvegas (2009)

[Jerry Saravia]

MONSTERS, MARRIAGE AND MURDER IN MANCHVEGAS (2009)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
RATING: Three stars

A title like "Monsters, Marriage and Murder in Manchvegas" will remind
some of the gloriously long titles of B-movies of the 1950's. After
all, it is no different than a title like "I Married a Monster from
Outer Space." Movies like "Manchvegas" don't seem to exist anymore and
coming from writers Matt Farley and Charles Roxburgh (who also
directed), they aim to make a charming, inoffensive picture that is
seemingly exploitative (with a title like that, you can't expect less)
but delivers a certain sweetness that can only emanate from its small-
town setting.

The small town in this film is Manchvegas, or more appropriately to
the rest of you, Manchester, New Hampshire. Three members of an
entrepreneurial group known as M.O.S. (Manchvegas Outlaw Society)
deliver newspapers, hot dogs, books, lemonade and poppy Beach-Boys-
sounding CD's from their own band around town. They also solve some
petty crimes such as finding the kids who are stealing the delivered
newspapers. Of course, M.O.S. mostly spend time at a nearby lake
engaging in lots of tomfoolery and "summertime fun," including
throwing water balloons at each other. The leader of M.O.S. is
Marshall (Matt Farley), who pines for the affections of Jenny (Marie
Dellicker), another member of the group (would a blonde adult really
hang out with such a group?). There is also All-Star Pete (Thomas
Scalzo) and he mostly plays basketball and sets up surveillance on
Jenny's dates so that Marshall can scare them off. Can't really blame
Jenny for seeking other men since Marshall suffers from maximum
arrested development.

A murdered bride-to-be is found and M.O.S. decides to solve the murder
(their credentials don't extend beyond stolen newspapers). Another
bride-to-be, a product of finishing school known as Melinda (Sharon
Scalzo), is missing after she was last seen skinny-dipping but who is
the killer? Is it the local grocer who became her fiance? And what are
those strange, mythical forest beasts, known as Gospercaps, who speak
in an undiscernable language? Are they harmless or are they murderous?

I will say that "Monsters, Marriage and Murder in Manchvegas" is an
original treat for anyone who loves cheesy, low-budget  B-movies,
especially those that are still shot on film. Though some of the
actors, such as police chief Delvecchio (James McHugh, who is clearly
reading his lines rather than speaking them) or Melinda's dad (Kevin
McGee, whom Farley has described as their Bela Lugosi), don't give
spellbinding performances, Matt Farley, however, gives it his all - he
has presence in those arched eyebrows and slight squeaky voice (he was
genuinely creepy in his last outing, "Freaky Farley"). He inarguably
gives the best performance in the film and the sweet little love story
with Jenny adds a layer of true innocence to the proceedings. You can
tell these guys had fun making a cheerful, unpretentious film that
nearly everyone might have a hard time disliking. But it is also that
small-town innocence that gives the movie an added touch of
nostalgia.

Farley and Roxburgh have to work on ironing out their repertory of
actors, but they have ideas and combine humor, nostalgia and a good
sense of time and place, not to mention a witty, engaging script with
three solid lead actors (will someone please give these guys a bigger
budget?). I cannot wait to see what they cook up next.


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