RUN CHOPS RUN
Web site

review written 7/15/2003

I've said it more than once. Run Lola Run is just a film that cries out to be parodied. Director Stephen Armstrong seems to understand that. He just doesn't seem to be sure how to do it.

The opening credits are done in a way that vaguely resembles the way the source film's are done. But surely he had the video editing resources to do it right, and not by just shooting a few lazy shots of his actors?

The sound is very difficult to hear. Fortunately, I'm guessing there's not much plot, because I understand the source film and it's easy to follow from there. But it's still a shame, because there might be some decent dialogue. The first truly funny joke in the film appears with the spoof of Lola's scream, utilizing the classic comic device of blatantly overdoing a joke, timewise.

Then the music kicks in. Too loud. The film's got mixing issues throughout; it is very difficult to hear the dialogue unless you turn it up a lot, and then you're left with a shock when the overpowering music jumps in.

The camera work spinning around chops is well-done—I like the crisp blue sky and sharp greenery—and the insert shots of the skinny guy are sort of funny. But the way that Chops is shot running does not quite mirror the style of Run Lola Run. The shots are way too long, and blatantly speeding up the film is inaccurate and overnoticable. The dip to red was poorly done; it's an easy effect to do. Why was the red layer blended instead of multiplied? Why are the still shots not still shots, but motion shots with the actors holding a pose? It's this sort of laziness in accuracy that kills a spoof.

There was potential here, and a couple of laughs, but overall, I can only recommend it to completists.