Mister America Review
MISTER AMERICA follows Tim Heidecker's delusional attempt to enter the world of politics. After beating a murder charge for selling faulty e-cigarettes at an EDM festival, Tim seeks revenge by running an absurd campaign to unseat the San Bernardino District Attorney. Fueled by ego and ignorance, he tries to surmount a lack of experience, funds and likeability by personally connecting with unsuspecting constituents. It does not go well.
R: Language and some drug use
Runtime: 1 Hour and 26 Minutes
Production Companies: Abso Lutely Productions, Williams Street
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Director: Eric Notarnicola
Writers: Tim Heidecker, Eric Notarnicola, Gregg Turkington
Cast: Tim Heidecker, Gregg Turkington
Release Date: October 9, 2019
I know what you're thinking. No, this is not a DC movie based on the superhero of the same name. In fact, it’s a new film from the people behind the webseries On Cinema (specifically for fans of On Cinema) and almost every solo project Tim Heidecker has done since 2012.
Expanding on a viral bit from 2017 where a full-blown four-hour trial took place for an EDM festival incident that actor-turned-electronic-musician Tim Heidecker hosted, he was charged for the murder of 20 people and hospitalization of 156 others. Mister America follows Heidecker’s political campaign—or conquest, more like—to become the DA of San Bernardino County against Vincent Rosetti, who prosecuted him in the murder trial.
If there’s one thing that I love about Heidecker’s solo stuff, it’s that you can never tell if what he’s doing is real or not. He’d be the most recognizable face amongst many actors who you wouldn’t even think were actors. Just watch the first 10 minutes, or skim through his trial bit, and despite the absurdity of the situation, you would think the trial was real based on the appearances of people who are just so grounded in their performance/commitment to the bit without breaking face. That aspect is applied here, where Heidecker campaigns all around San Bernardino. While you’re thinking he’s screwing around with real people, it's actually just a bunch of actors. It’s a complete mockumentary, but at the same time it feels so authentic, which makes a lot of the movie really funny. Yes, this is all fictional, but I'm stupid when it comes to mockumentaries as surreal as this one and I end up wondering, “Is this real?” They’re all performers but the illusion is alluring.
I don’t know how many On Cinema fans there are in this world, but believe me when I say that this is specifically for you. This is for the demographic who watched nothing but Tim Heidecker stuff on Adult Swim, but now it’s on a big screen. Does it belong there? Of course not. This is a vanity project that could’ve aired on TV or gone straight to YouTube like the trial. Since Heidecker has become a bigger name now after appearing in high-profile projects, such as Ant Man & the Wasp and Us, they allowed this to go to theaters. Throughout the film you have references and cutaways to his previous works, such as On Cinema and Decker, with appearances from his colleagues, a major one being his On Cinema co-host Gregg Turkington in character as himself who has a hilarious running gag on hats.
Any other film critics unfamiliar with his work are just going to dogpile on this, but as a proud dumbass who grew up watching some On Cinema on Adult Swim’s YouTube channel, several episodes of Decker, and pieces of that trial… I enjoyed this. I laughed and chuckled all the way through and did a bit of homework to remind myself that this is just the continuation of a bit that I forgot existed. I totally forgot he did that fake trial that the internet had a field day with. Admittingly, I'm 50-50 on Heidecker’s solo works, but as long as you fully understand the context of the events prior to this film, then you’re bound to have a great time. If you don’t get his sense of humor by now, from his hit-or-miss ad-libbing and vigorous, incompetent, and dim-witted persona then GTFO. It’s a self-referential expansion of everything Heidecker has produced for Williams Street thus far and if you are a fan of that, then this is for you. The real question is, are you willing to pay the full price to see it? Personally, I think this is a rental, but also a good rental. If this was on VOD for $6.99 or whatever and you and your Adult Swim-loving buddies were high as hell, then you’d enjoy it. Or if your name is Brianna Zigler (a good friend of mine who is influenced by his humor, and honestly this shit is for her), then go on and do the full price you little rascal!
