CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Film Review: ‘Escape from Tomorrow’ Blasts America’s Sacred Mice
CHICAGO – One of America’s family traditions has become the trip to Disney World (or land). In one of the most highly charged anarchistic films in memory, this “tradition” is set on its mouse ears, as writer/director Randy Moore allows everyone to “Escape from Tomorrow.”
Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
The average family, the average family vacation is the basis for this fantastic takedown of all that is sacred in the Disney universe. Shooting guerilla style on the actual locations, Moore creates a surreal landscape of fear, paranoia, sex, anarchy and madness – exactly what Walt had in mind when he created his world. In actuality though, this vision is closer to the truth than the fantasy Disney washes over us. It is a lesson in creating a balance between true imagination and contrived dollar grabbers. Although spotty in narrative flow, “Escape from Tomorrow” serves as an amazing thesis for American morality gone South. It’s a small world, after all.
Jim (Roy Abramsohn) and Emily (Elena Schuber) take their kids Sara (Katelynn Rodriguez) and Elliot (Jack Dalton) to the Magic Kingdom of Disney World. As they are about to go to the park for another day, Jim receives a phone call that he has been terminated from his job. Shocked from that body blow, he must pretend to be the diligent father at Disney World, which is a brutally idiotic place to be when facing a life disaster.
Jim begins to lash out psychologically. His fantasy and reality begin to play tricks upon him, and he becomes obsessed with a couple of French tourists, two underage but Lolita-esque girls. He also has a run-in with an amulet-wearing woman (Alison Lees-Taylor), whose witchy/princess charms run parallel to what the theme park has to offer. This is one amusement ride that won’t stop.
Photo credit: Producers Distribution Agency |