Model Citizen

  A few years old now this film, but after watching it last night with the kids it deserves a mention.

If there was ever a story that could be disasterous it's this. The synopsis is this:

Knoxville, who I dont particularly rate as an actor, especially after he was one of those responsible for trying to ruin all that was good about The Dukes Of Hazzard. Anyway, he plays Steve, a bit of an office loser who as the film starts is listening to self help motivational tapes at work. The result is he goes to his boss to ask for more responsibility...which he gets in the form of having to fire the janitor, a very sweet old man called Stavvi. Steve just can't do this so instead offers him a job cutting grass at his home complex. What happens next happens quickly, as Stavvi is trying to cut the lawn with the clapped out mower, he leans down to fix it and has 3 of his fingers cut off by the blade. At the hospital, without insurance, Steve has to pay $28'000 if Stavvi is to keep his fingers. After an attempt to borrow money from his loser uncle, a gambler, his uncle hits upon an idea to solve all their money issues...rig the Special Olympics.

  As said, if ever there was a film with the potential to be completeley politically uncorrect, this film was it. That it managed to steer well clear of any type of sentiment like that is amazing, but what you see is one of the most warm hearted, endeering, funny and thought provoking movies I've seen in a long time.

As Steve goes under cover at the Special olympics as a mentally challenged man called Geoffey he very quickly learns that the other athletes, real mentally challenged people, not only deserve his respect and honesty but eventually deserve a lot more than he has on offer.

  I think what struck me about the film after was just how much fun was being had by those who would be thought of as simple,tenting in their bedroom, having water fights, wheras the more sophisticated people I know have a good time by drinking until they vomit, clubbing to music so loud you can't hear yourself shout and then sleep with who ever's available. Hmmm, yeah, fun, right.

Back to the film. Well, if you've not seen this. Thought this was going to be just about the worst taste film possible.Think again, it's well worth the few quid it can be bought from on Amazon and leaves a lastingly good impression.

Rated 4 out of 5