On the Edge (2001) (TV)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Directors:

Anne Heche
Mary Stuart Masterson

Writers:

Anne Heche (segment)
John W. Herrera (writer)

Release Date:

28 June 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Cast

John Goodman	...	The Dean (segment "Happy Birthday")
Sydney Tamiia Poitier	...	Hannah (segment "Happy Birthday")
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Bag Lady (segment "Happy Birthday")
Christopher Lloyd	...	Attorney Bum (segment "Happy Birthday")
David Hyde Pierce	...	Barney (segment "Happy Birthday")
Caroline Rhea	...	Monica (segment "Happy Birthday")
Jenica Bergere	...	Sally (segment "Happy Birthday")
Ken Hudson Campbell	...	Security Guard (segment "Happy Birthday") (as Ken Campbell)
Roman Danylo	...	Donald (segment "Happy Birthday")
Kimiko Gelman	...	May Lee Ha (segment "Happy Birthday")
Jean Kasem	...	Nurse (segment "Happy Birthday")
Taylor Negron	...	Policeman (segment "Happy Birthday")
Travis Wester	...	Chute Boy (segment "Happy Birthday")
Dondre Whitfield	...	Man in Elevator (segment "Happy Birthday")
Marissa Jaret Winokur	...	Dean's Secretary (segment "Happy Birthday")

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo | Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Germany:12 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Chanticleer Films

Movie Connections:

Edited from Reaching Normal (2001)

Amazingly cool like the twilight zone.... without cool rod sterling at the end

This is one of those amazing movies you get lucky and catch in the middle of the night. This just so happened to be on TV and it caught my eye because it seemed very clever. There's a certain real quality about it that fresh directors really give you. Its sci-fi, a genre not explored enough recently and they do a good job of bringing you back Twilight Zone style. The introductions to the films, although cheesy, are still clever. You see here's the deal...

There's this business executive scrooge type, and his secretary decides to teach him a lesson she's going to hit him over the head with a phone and make him watch short films. This is very funny because it makes no sense but serves a very funny old-school approach to introducing really good films. The mistake? They tried to make it into a connected story with ending it in the end. After the 3rd short movie they should have killed him or done something really quick. Instead it comes across as a women's rights thing, and what's up with the secretary's head in the upper left corner? I mean I know they had to show she was listening, but don't you think that was a little-bit too much like a phone card commercial? I don't know, maybe I'm just a guy but her sitting in the corner while the formerly powerful executive now quivered to his wife just made me feel like it was a women's right commercial. It really took away from the other three movies because it's the last thing you remember. That made me sad, but it was also very funny. I just wish the ending wasn't so trite.

AS for the other three short films, they really are quite good. The secretary or whoever does a good job that's like the Crypt Keeper from Tales from the Crypt but really keeps it on a Twilight Zone level. The first film really grabbed me, because in this Big Brother age, how far are we from the government issuing lobotomies? I mean they said we'd never make a Terminator like being and look at the AI coming out kids! The first movie really grabs you and the cameos really impress anyone enough to stay. I really say give this movie a shot, if it was in theaters it could really have a cult following but as it is... its just really good!