Nostalgic Movie Recommendation: When Jeff Tried to Save the World

Saturday night at the movies was spent at home this week, scanning Hulu for content that fit the occasion. Recently-added When Jeff Tried to Save the World seemed to promise an entertaining, comedic ensemble film. Read on for the no-spoiler scoop, and add it to your watch list!

The choice was not a disappointment, starting straight off with scenes that feature the incomparable Jon Heder. Those who remember Heder's remarkable performance in Napoleon Dynamite (2004) will understand the expectation for focus. While Heder has been busy since then, he's likely dropped out of site for most popular moviegoers who are most likely to remember him opposite Will Ferrell in Blades of Glory, but not so much his other work, which has remained steady . . . yet fairly niche.

"Comedic Ensemble" - Yes!

When Jeff Tried to Save the World is popularly-listed as a comedy-drama; however, with elements of both romantic comedy and subversive film, it would be best described to movie buffs as a light, comedic art film.

Its subversive quality is fairly evident in its most basic plot description, being a movie that deals with a dying local business, the biggest fans of which naturally wish it to survive. The writers' keen character traits, paired with fundamental storylines, help to deliver thematic messaging of a political context without directly approaching divisive dialog or [much] argumentation.

Romantic elements involve not only the more predictable situational meetup and progression of events, but as well address our most typical and fondest notions of familial relations, while hardly focusing on this aspect of the film. So, while the movie as designed is a slow burn (as many filmgoers love to see) there's quite a lot happening to keep a watcher focused.

There are familiar faces, as well as engaging less-familiars. Fans are likely to recognize and will be happy to see Jim O'Heir, whose lengthy career in comedy entertainment has set him before us in one thing or another for at least the last twenty years. Fans will also recognize a familiar female duo, appearing together again as friends. Overall, it's an admirable cast of characters that lend credence to otherwise nostalgic elements of the movie: bowling lanes, arcade games, snack bar fare and good times, all in the neighborhood. Modern elements add contemporary interest.

While When Jeff Tried to Save the World is well worth the time, don't expect it to be as exciting as Napoleon Dynamite. (Much tongue-in-cheek happening here.)

However, in vaguely the same way, When Jeff Tried to Save the World should be just as enjoyable for fans of Heder and other cast members, as well as anyone simply chasing a bit of nostalgia that hearkens to days and venues largely gone by in terms of modern entertainment.

Official Movie Poster Image via IMDB

Catch it on Hulu (for a limited time):
When Jeff Tried to Save the World

Actual When Jeff Tried to Save the World movie site, with trailer: WhenJeffMovie.com 

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