Very Bad Things

Director: Peter Berg
Cast:
Cameron Diaz
Christian Slater
Daniel Stern
Jeanne Tripplehorn
Leland Orser
Genre: Comedy

As for "Very Bad Things," good movie reviewers can't get off by punning that it's a "Very Bad Movie," because it isn't. Jon Favreau (the "money" dude from "Swingers") is about to get married to the electrifyingly high-maintenance Cameron Diaz, but first has to take a road trip to Vegas with his groomsmen, including a psycho (Christian Slater), a whiner (Daniel Stern), a cuckling doofus (Jeremy Pivens) and a creature of indeterminate origin (Leland Orser). Hookers die, hotel clerks get dismembered, all culminating in what may be the worst date movie since "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover."

"Very Bad Things" has a darkness to its comedy that is almost impenetrable; just when you find yourself at home with its surgically unique sensibilities, you'll see a main character actually shed tears when he comprehends what he's done. It implicates you, the audience member, for even showing up to SEE the thing. For a while, it's a fantastic ride, but pretty soon, you really do want an antibacterial towelette, if not a full-fledged loofah shower.

With Jeannie Tripplehorn, written and directed by Peter Berg.

—Ian Williams

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