Made [DVD] [2002]

This isn't the type of comedy that offers the obvious laughs or a "wacky" finale. There are no "zany" gimmicks or an over-the-top plot. The movie relies on the tone, which is very subtle and has great timing. The characters are real because they are written that way. While it may be hard to believe that any mob boss would give these two guys a job, we're able to buy it because it's written and structured in a very realistic manner. This is probably why the film isn't overly popular with many folks, but that's fine by me. I really enjoyed myself when I watched this, and even had a better time watching it the second time. Jon Favreau is great in his role, as he knows that he's not the showstopper and has to make sure that he's subtle and mostly quiet--that is, unless he's arguing with his buddy. Vince Vaughn is the definite showstopper, and you can tell that he has a lot of fun with the role. He plays it perfectly, and I'm convinced that nobody else could pull off such a stunt. We also must not forget the very funny Peter Falk, and it must be said that Sean Combs ("Puffy") does a very good job with his part as well.

I must warn you that the movie has TONS of profanities in it. It even outdoes "The Big Lebowski" in the F-Bomb department, believe it or not. If you're not a fan of non-stop vulgar language, then you better stay clear from this. I think the language works because the movie is trying to play like a "Goodfellas" gone completely wrong. The DVD has some really great special features. The picture looks really good, and the sound isn't bad either. Some of the extras include commentary, deleted scenes, outtakes, a scene edit workshop, documentaries and much, much more. Plenty of goodies to play around with.

"Made" is a movie that really worked for me. I think it's an extremely clever comedy that is character-driven all the way. It's entertainingly written and very well directed. Keep in mind that you will be taking a chance on this one if you decide to check it out. People have mixed feelings about it. With that in mind, I would suggest that you rent it first before you decide to purchase, just to be on the safe side. It's a short movie so it won't take up much of your life should you end up not liking it. If you're looking for a funny comedy that doesn't rely on the usual gags, then this is something that is worth checking out. -Michael Crane

Anyway, a lot of you who haven't seen this film will be thinking 'Is 'Made' similar to 'Swingers'?'. Well, yes and no. Yes, in that it is another superb film written (and this time directed) by Jon Favreau, who again stars with Vince Vaughn, proving that 'Swingers' wasn't just a fluke, and that it's another dialogue-orientated comedy. And no, because the story and characters in 'Made' are very different to what we found in "Swingers"...

Firstly, 'Made' is a much darker film than 'Swingers'. It's set in a low-key mafia environment, and the action switches from Los Angeles to New York and back again. Jon Favreau plays wannabe boxer Bobby, who acts as protection for his stripper girlfriend (played by Famke Janssen) when she's on call. He loves her and her young daughter (who's "not even his"), and will do anything to make their lives easier - even doing odd jobs for small-time mob boss Maxi (the croaky, almost incomprehinsible Peter Falk - great value, as always), who just happens to employ Bobby's girlfriend as one of his team of strippers. When Maxi calls on Bobby to go to New York to do a mysterious "drop", Bobby gets his life-long friend Ricky to go along with him. Vince Vaughn is brilliant as Ricky, a total idiot, so different to the effortlessly cool Trent, who Vaughn played in 'Swingers'. The hapless Ricky provides most of the comedy in this film, his hilariously cringe-worthy efforts to appear streetwise and in-the-know, especially when trying to impress Maxi and his mob partner in New York, Ruiz. Sean Combs (a.k.a. Puff Daddy / P. Diddy) does well in his limited amount of screen time as Ruiz, although you do get the feeling he's maybe playing himself up to a point.

The cinematography and soundtrack to the film are excellent (especially in and around the New York nightspots), with the soundtrack varying from upbeat hip hop favourites - De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Jurassic 5 - to Dean Martin. There are a lot of familiar faces who appear in peripheral roles (keep your eye out for actors from The Sopranos and a bizarre cameo by a cast member of early 90s teen show Saved By The Bell).

All in all, this is a great movie which is well worth buying, that further enhances Jon Favreau's reputation as a superbly deft scriptwriter, and confirms that Favreau and Vaughn are a marvellous on-screen duo.

It's a satire on all the mob movies/TV shows that make a life of crime out to be something glamorous. Some reviewers have complained about the overuse of the f-word but that's the whole point I think Jon Favreau was trying to make - you can talk the talk but that doesn't make you a gangster. It's a dirty dangerous unpleasant business...as our anti-heros Bobby and Ricky find out.

The performances are excellent all round especially Jon Favreau as the quiet long suffering good guy and Vince Vaughn as the loud mouthed aggravating but ultimately loyal best friend. It's Vince's movie...and he looks like he's having a ball. The DVD commentary is worth the price of the disk in itself...watch for the game of noughts and crosses and the f-word score chart. Him and Jon Favreau really bring out the best in each other and the outtakes are hilarious.

It's seriously funny, sharply written, great direction - an all round fantastic movie...if not as easily accessible as Swingers. It's hard to compare the two. Swingers is the naive innocent little brother that you'll always love...Made the darker, cynical elder that won't be ignored - the product of Jon Favreau's five years in the battlefields of Hollywoodland following the making of Swingers.

Buy it...watch it...don't show it to your granny.