Home Fries (1998)

Second viewing; first viewing with original audio; previously viewed on June 18, 2002.

*possible spoilers below*
Dorian and his brother Angus are goaded by their mother to give their stepfather a scare on account of his ongoing extramarital affair. Both being pilots, they decide to use a helicopter from their military station to accomplish that goal. Things get out of control, though, what with their target's heart condition. To further complicate matters, they realize that their conversation inside the helicopter leaked to the radio devices used by the workers at a nearby fast food restaurant. Angus asks Dorian to infiltrate the restaurant as an employee, and investigate whether anyone there wised up to the meaning of the leaked conversation. Dorian complies. He befriends pregnant waitress Sally, unaware at first that she is the woman with whom his stepfather was having an affair.

The above is a very imaginative premise for a movie. The real problem with it, however, is that the development is not on the same level of imagination as the premise. Said development consists mainly in family fights and on contrived plot devices through which characters realize stuff about other characters. And of course there is also a romantic relationship which is not fully convincing, but then again they never are, either in film or in reality.

Rating: 56 (down from 63)