An epic case of failure to communicate propels the hysterical antics in “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil.” The 2010 indie is a comical spoof, playing off tropes and clichés found in classic horror movies like “Deliverance,” “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” and “Friday the 13th” to name a few. While loaded with gratuitous and graphic gore, it’s an over the top gaggle of slapstick humor from start to finish.
Set in the remote West Virginia Appalachian Mountains, a group of thoroughly obnoxious college kids, presented in typical horror movie fodder, are heading into the woods for a camping trip. The characters are comically stereotypical in appearance and mannerisms, doing and saying typical horror movie absurdities, with a ditsy blonde wearing “stripper shoes” and boys distraught when they discover that they forgot to bring the beer.
The college kids have a chance encounter with a pair of backwoods hillbilly types; best friends Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Tyler Labine) who are in the process of renovating a remote cabin. After a series of implausible mishaps occur, the college kids are left terrified of Tucker and Dale, believing them to be homicidal killers in true horror movie fashion.
“Tucker & Dale” is loaded with LOL moments, with one particular scene involving a chainsaw being so funny you’ll have to watch it more than once. Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are perfect in their roles. Tudyk, who starred in one of my favorite comedies “Death at a Funeral,” delivers another robust performance as the “smart one” of the duo. He offers sincere advice to Dale who has a crush on one of the college kids (Katrina Bowden) but feels he isn’t good enough to talk to her. The movie plays this aspect well, and Tudyk and Labine are a natural fit together.
The brainchild of filmmaker Eli Craig, “Tucker & Dale” clocks in at 89 minutes, but makes the mistake of peaking too soon. Its opening half is downright hysterical, and you’ll find yourself invested in the weak but amusing story. As random events fall like dominoes, Tucker and Dale are set up to be far worse than Jason Voorhies or Freddie Krueger, and it works.
The Second half drags however, and the comical gags and dialect get repetitive quickly. It’s tough to trim down an 89 minute movie, so the focus of criticism has to fall with the writing. Nevertheless, it’s an enjoyable story and you’re going to want a sequel (which is apparently in the works as we speak).
“Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” isn’t scary, but it fits well into any Halloween movie list. It’s a great change up to the typical scares of October.
