Grilled (2006)

Director:

Jason Ensler

Writers (WGA):

William Tepper (story) &
Larry Hankin (story) ...

Release Date:

31 October 2006 (Hungary)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

You can't beat their meat.

Plot:

Two meat salesmen (Romano, James) will stop at nothing to get a sale.

Plot Keywords:

Gun | Meat | Restaurant | Kitchen | Salesman

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 18	4:30 PM	COMEDY
Thur. Nov. 19	10:00 AM	COMEDY

Cast

Ray Romano	...	Maurice
Kevin James	...	Dave
Sofía Vergara	...	Loridonna
Juliette Lewis	...	Suzanne
Kim Coates	...	Tony
Burt Reynolds	...	Goldbluth
Michael Rapaport	...	Bobby
Eric Allan Kramer	...	Irving
Barry Newman	...	Boris
Jack Kehler	...	Abbott
Jon Polito	...	Leon Waterman
Donzaleigh Abernathy	...	Karen
Mary Lynn Rajskub	...	Renee
Jim Doughan	...	Andy
Lisa Jane Persky	...	Sally

Also Known As:

Men Who Don't Quit (USA) (original script title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexual references and a scene of violence.

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

USA:R | USA:R (certificate #41359) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Avery Pix

Trivia:

Originally set for theatrical release in 2005, the film was pushed back both domestically and internationally secondary to poor test screenings. Ultimately the film was release direct-to-DVD in the domestic market under a new title.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Maurice and Dave get to the woman that belong to their last address card, she excuses herself for a minute and closes the door. Right afterwards, when the two talk to each other, you see the same door half open in the background.

Quotes:

Dave: Mr. Goldbluth, we can take you to the top of the beef world. The highest altitude in gourmet dining. Meat so soft, people don't even bother to use their teeth. The meat just seems to melt as it makes contact with your mouth.
Goldbluth: Yeah.
[turns head to kitchen staff, shouts]
Goldbluth: You hear that! You don't even have to chew it.

Deserved better

Ray Romano and Kevin James are certainly two of the top comic talents in the past several years. Ray, as the cornerstone of his series, and with reruns appearing frequently and in multiple airings - he has to be adding to the financial benefits from his creation - already well into 9 figures, and probably approaching 10.

I don't know if Kevin had the equity in his program equivalent to Romano, but if he hasn't made as much, it's very considerable nonetheless.

Many big TV stars have had an overall rough time in gaining anything even close in translating their talents to the big screen. Sometimes the films seem to be bad choices - or just "bad."

Bill Cosby's TV show was top-rated, and I believe he led all entertainers in earnings at least one year, and was near the top during others - but what he provided on the big screen was neither memorable initially nor provided anything one would seek to view again.

Even where not only due to movie quality, it seems difficult for audiences to accept characterizations different from those which made their television programs so popular.

This movie wasn't of "blockbuster" proportions, but certainly worthy of better than direct-to-video release. The two leads have worked well together before - James regularly on "Raymond," and while I didn't and don't watch "King of Queens" a lot, I do recall seeing Romano at least once in a cameo-type appearance.

But this flick was humorous with a plot which balanced its humor and a modicum of believability and drama. I thought both leads did well, and the supporting cast, too..

Worth a viewing - and much better than, say, the Pesci/Glover offering, "Gone Fishin'," where even big-screen performers with successful track records can produce a real flop.

Again, this film seems to deserve better than it got.