Thank God at least they did not take themselves too seriously at least! Some people (like the detrimental Asylum, do!).No, this knows to be a light farce with tongue in cheek horrific moments! butThe predictable story would run amok pretty quickly, despite the great environmental subtext, and its family's film under tones, since the writing seems poor and the directing is rarely inspired or even just above B level, without much of a visual style, or believable special effects(the really weakest part!). However, there was thankfully some cleverness to make this effort worth watching: the idea to push over the top with an often hilarious light tone, that never lets you take anything too seriously, helps a huge deal, making up for lack of tension or cohesive story telling! Actually this at times almost juvenile tone makes the movie unexpectedly growing on you, to a somewhat quirky 'simpatico', allowing the good cast to convey some weight to their characters! In fact we always find ourselves following them with curiosity and sympathy.Again, while cinematography, production and costume design, score are just passable, despite the beautiful Central/Northern California's rural and bucolic locations work, tremendously accentuating the ecological prime interest of the movie, the script and direction are too weak to make up for a solid attempt at the genre, here, and both feel almost undecided whether going directly for exploitative choices or more personal and witty ones. Always almost about to fall apart, the film is mainly hold together tightly by the good intentions and the cast. On this particular department, a mention must go to new actor Pete Punito, whose portrayal of the troubled lead character, professor Gino Coletti, adds up with solid work, and, an almost defining wit and vitality. There's also a supporting role played by Domiziano Arcangeli (by far the only recognizable name by far, of the whole exceptionally supporting, and supportive talent, here so well cast as an ensemble, and, at least for the lovers of Cult films!) who's almost the villain of the movie: a well appointed suburban douche bag, one of those self proclaimed life coaches, but truly just a drunk, provincial, D grade playboy, made by the talented actor really memorable and vigorously impressive, and, thankfully, will go back on him through the use of a suggestive flashback that finally deepens into the premise, bringing more reason to the plot as well, and, certainly benefiting of Arcangeli's ex pretty boy charisma, the actor seems to demolish with a clever gusto!Over all, it may not be certainly the best, but never the worst, if you don't have major expectations you may get a kick out of it!
