Allan Watched "Golden Arm"
Relentlessly silly and full of heart, Golden Arm takes all of the bests parts of “buddy comedies” and sports movies, and boils it down to 90 minutes of pure fun.
Gut Feeling
We need more movies like Golden Arm. It feels like there are not enough straight forward comedies out there that are allowed to be silly and heartfelt without a huge premise or an exaggerated third act that crawls to the obvious conclusion. Although there are familiar tropes strewn throughout Jenna Milly and Ann Marie Allison’s script, the bits and jokes feel fresh and unpredictable.
The premise itself, Melanie (Mary Holland), a down-on-her-luck small bakery owner is convinced by her longtime best friend Danny (Betsy Sodaro) to use her hidden arm wrestling abilities to defeat the villainous Goliath Brenda (Olivia Stambouliah) at the Ladies Arm Wrestling Championship, is not exactly what Hollywood has produced in the last decade. Despite it’s wacky jumping-off point, the film is filled with so many of LA’s great comedians and sketch performers that you can’t help but enjoy each ridiculous scene.
Holland and Sodaro Lead the Way
A “Buddy Comedy” cannot succeed without a killer duo, and the chemistry between Mary Holland and Betsy Sodaro give the film the fuel it needs to succeed. Holland, an imrpov comedy powerhouse and a face you’ve seen in most of the great sitcoms of the last five years (and AT&T commercials), produces the most well-rounded performance as the “hero” of the film. Her sweetness and genuine struggle as a newly divorced small business owner is the perfect character to pin your hopes on as she comes across a never ending stream of utterly ridiculous people, including Danny. We care about Melanie’s struggles and root for her in both the arm wrestling arena and in her pursuit of Greg (Eugene Cordero), a friendly baseball umpire who won’t hurt the always vulnerable heroine.
Sodaro’s performance as the brash best friend and catalyst for this road trip through crazy town foils Holland perfectly. Sodaro can say pretty much anything and it would be funny, but it’s when she pulls off some of the sweeter moments in the film that it takes Golden Arm past being just a ridiculously long sketch, and instead a really great feature film.
No Wasted Characters
What makes Golden Arm work as a full picture is the lineup of insane characters Danny introduces to Melanie as she builds up the skill and determination needed to compete with the best arm wrestlers in the land. There is no shortage of laughs as we go weirdo to weirdo, starting with Randy (Kate Flannery), a foul-mouthed barkeep who is the first person Melanie defeats on her journey, much to the shock of the bar patrons. Next we get a wily arm wrestling mentor Big Sexy (Dot-Marie Jones) who acts as Melanie’s Mickey Goldmill to prepare her for competition. Jones nails the role with her patented intensity and presence, but her section of the film does represent the “we need to force in some character development” segment that tells us a bunch of things about Melanie and Danny instead of showing us.
Once we finally get to the championship venue itself, we are treated to Danny’s clumsy sidekick Jerry (Ahmed Bharoocha), host of the event Carl (Ron Funchess), Melanie’s love interest Greg, and a handful of other characters that add new energy to each scene. Brenda and her goon Tessie (Dawn Luebbe) are perfect prototypical villains who Melanie is destined to face in the tournament. Those scenes are executed so well that this movie feels as much a sports comedy as a road trip/buddy film, which is a real delight.
Random Thoughts
Aparna Nancherla has about 2 minutes of screen time and she, as she always does, nails it.
I needed a lot more Jerry. Him being a bumbling lackey for Danny works in so many ways, mainly because Danny has no status at all but still has such a loyal follower. He provided a few of my biggest laughs in the movie.
Give us a the Ron Funchess/Betsy Sodaro romantic comedy you cowards.
I went back and forth throughout the film trying to decide if too many of the borrowed tropes were over done. My conclusion is that it was not too much, and it may be because it is has been a while since I saw a film that executed these familiar themes so well.
Eugene Cordero always feels perfectly cast. He pulls off insane characters (like in The Good Place) wonderfully, yet he does well here as more of the straight man with a goofy charm.
This won’t be Mary Holland’s last leading role in a feature film. She proves in this film she can carry a story on her back and is not just be the “best friend” or “little sister” we have seen in the past.
Holland’s ex-husband in the film is played by her real-life husband Matt Newell, and their one scene together is a true delight.
Many scones were harmed in this film.
Quick Hits
How many times have I seen this movie?
First time! It was widely released and I couldn’t wait more than a day to watch it.
Where was I watching it?
In my office with a hot cup of coffee on a lazy weekend afternoon.
Favorite trivia about the movie
Not really trivia, but this film is filled to the brim with so many great comedians and sketch performers. If you love the UCB/Comedy Bang Bang/Alt comedy scene, you will be endlessly happy with everyone in the movie.
Favorite part
Anything Jerry did.
Least favorite part
The training montage was needed, but the forced dialog between Melanie and Danny to make sure there was some potential for tension was the least successful writing in the movie.
Would I recommend this movie?
Please watch this movie, it is such a joy.
So What Does Allan Give It?
One Gold Thumbs Up! Overall, a score of 84. Funny right until the last second of the credits, Golden Arm survives it’s sometimes thin writing by being simply hilarious and full of heart.
