FREAKY DEAKY (2013) **

Elmore Leonard adaptations work best when the humor comes naturally from the characters, situations, and dialogue.  This one is miscalculated from the get-go.  The setting was inexplicably changed to the ‘70s, presumably for the sole purpose of making make the characters look goofy in their dated hairstyles and fashions.  It’s as if the filmmakers thought just having them being quirky and offbeat wasn’t enough.  Another irritating touch is the annoying chapter breaks that serve no purpose whatsoever.  They also go a little overboard with the overly bombastic scene transitions.  It’s a shame too because underneath all that, Freaky Deaky could’ve worked had the filmmakers had confidence in the material instead of repeatedly calling attention to itself with all the gratuitous bells and whistles. 

Skip (Christian Slater) is a movie pyrotechnics man who gets roped in by a femme fatale (Breanne Racano) to blow up a pair of millionaire brothers (Crispin Glover and Andy Dick).  Mankowski (Billy Burke) is ex-bomb squad detective serving a suspension who can’t stay away from the job.  He winds up in the middle of the fracas and uses his know-how to… ahem… diffuse the situation. 

Freaky Deaky is populated with the same kinds of characters Leonard is known for.  There are street level hoods who are smarter than they let on, rich guys who insulate themselves by keeping company with criminals, and women who use their sexuality as a smoke screen for their devious intentions.  While the ingredients are all there, the recipe is just a bit off. 

It’s nice to see Burke in lead role, it’s just that his character is too thin to make much of an impression.  Slater underplays things, despite his awkward cowboy get-up, and never really becomes a threatening villain or a memorable oddball.  Michael Jai White fares much better as Glover’s bodyguard/nanny who steals many scenes out from under his co-stars.  

Despite its many shortcomings, there are some fun moments here that almost, but not quite redeem the clunky stretches.  The biggest laugh comes when White screams, “Kareem Abdul-Jabbar!” instead of “Jesus!” when he’s caught off guard.  Say what you will about Freaky Deaky, but I can’t completely hate any movie that casts Crispin Glover and Andy Dick as brothers.  I mean where else are you going to see Michael Jai White and Crispin Glover getting stoned and watching The Lawrence Welk Show?