Welcome to another edition of Twisted News!
In today’s article, I bring you a review of Tapawingo, a tale of two friends who wish to be mercenaries but spend their days repeating the same shenanigans every day. Wake up, train (for what), regroup at the library, work, log in hours playing bingo with seasoned players, and take classes about Core Punch. What is Core Punch, you might ask? It is suicide, that’s what!
Tapawingo is a comedy that gives off Napoleon Dynamite vibes. Jon Heder, who plays Nate Skoog, leads a sprinkle of a well-known cast through his daily adventures until one day he wishes for a change. Nate’s next day at work in the mailroom of an insurance company, his mom had helped him get, we meet the exceptionally eccentric secretary, Dot. Gina Gershon delivers a very retro ’80s pop persona. Fun and lively. And oh boy does she have the hots for Nate. During a night of limitless beer and Bingo cards, Dot gets to act on her fantasy. Except the next day, hungover, Nate isn’t feeling the mutual pleasure of the others’ company. For Nate, it is the least of his worries when the change he needs comes from his boss, who asks him to chauffeur his awkward son around. Easy peasy. Who would have thought something so simple could be the very thing to push Nate in a different direction.
A day out with his best friend, Will, they dig through a mercenary magazine for a job listing that will accept their well-versed skills. Half a yard away, two people pick on a kid, but wait, Nate knows the kid. It’s his boss’s son. And it wasn’t just any two people but part of a family of generational bullies. He springs into action, ready to put his training to use. This is what he has been training for this whole time, after all, right?
Upon dropping the kid off at home, a woman sits on the doorstep, waiting. Nate is mesmerized by Gretchen, a rebel-without-a-cause kind of chick. Hates the world but sacrifices to live in it. Equally transfixed on Nate, Gretchen keeps up her rough exterior even when he asks her if she wants a ride. Intrigued by her “whatever” attitude, he invites her to a wrestling show. Unbeknownst to Will, he doesn’t like that Nate brought a girl during bro time. And unbeknownst to Nate, Dot sits on the other side of the ring and watches the betrayal in her eyes. Dot doesn’t take no for an answer. Everyone wants Dot.
With ill intentions, Dot comes across a fake ID in Nate’s desk and vindictively passes it along to their boss. Without a second thought, Nate’s boss fires him. But could it be a blessing in disguise? Because the kid hires Nate and friends to keep the bullies away.
Nate sees the change he has been grappling with after Gretchen alters his routine, and the boy gives him a sense of purpose, providing security and protection. Things are looking different for Nate. When the brothers of the family bully Nate with their dog, it tests Nate’s ability to provide safety for the boy. Because the boy and Nate understand each other, Nate doesn’t let it deter him from his goal. Protect at all costs.
Full of punchy 80s music, gnarly one-liners, and fun camera work. Tapawingo is a wholesome comedy when it captures a bittersweet moment of the transition between what is familiar and what comes next. And a tale of overcoming bullies.
Overall, the film is full of punchlines, resolution, and hope. The more I watch Jon Heder’s material, the more I’ve become appreciative of his work. He does tend to stick to safe movies, but witnessing his deadpan expressions as he delivers his lines makes each one worth it. Check out how it ends. It is fun and quirky, and Billy Zane even makes an appearance.
And there you have it! Tapawingo’s running time is 1 hour and 48 minutes. My rating is 3 out of 5 stars.
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Until next time!
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