A Great Movie Kept Hidden Until Now...

Rating: 10/10 (17 August 2011)

I was one of the few UK residents fortunate enough to be able to see this movie as it stayed hidden away from the public only popping up at certain festivals and in certain European countries. Now (and thankfully) it's finally getting a release I find myself both over-joyed and a little bit sad.
I'm overjoyed because if any movie deserves to be seen by the WHOLE movie going public then Tucker and Dale is certainly it. But I'm also sad because I found it thrilling that this movie was one of those I could ask friends "Have you seen Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil? No? Oh you REALLY need to see it!!" It felt like it was my job to make the world aware of just how good it really is. So now (and again, I say, quite rightly so) it's getting a release, albeit a limited one, no longer can I act like I discovered this film! The reason I feel the way I do about this film is because it's one of the few movies to come along in the last 5 years that is both well written and well-acted. And as well as those two great points it also has the bonus of being a very clever movie. The title characters are played with such great enthusiasm by Labine and Tudyk that it rubs off on the rest of the cast and you can see everyone is having the time of their lives.
I'll admit that this film won't go down in the halls of fame but it will get Director Eli Craig the recognition he deserves. Now that Edgar Wright seems to have gone quiet it's time for a new kid on the block and Craig could be just that man. His direction is bordering on greatness and, given the opportunity, he could (and should) go on to great things.
If I'm forced to say anything negative about this movie then my only criticism would be that at times some of the gags feel a little forced. Maybe that's down to the script writers or maybe it was down to the delivery by the cast. Either way the plus points of Tucker and Dale more than make up for these little faults.
Please, I beg of you, turn this little underground movie into the sleeper hit it so rightly deserves to be!