In Stan Ritchie, writer-director Thor Moreno brings us the first episode in the adventures of our hapless protagonist, Stan Ritchie (James Serpento). Once a renowned poker champion, Stan has descended into debt and desperation. We open as Stan wakes on the floor of his trashed home to find his bookie, Betty (Annette Duffy), and her enforcer demanding payment he doesn’t have. Stan discovers that Betty had ordered the local casinos not to let him gamble until his debt is repaid.
Desperate, Stan turns to his ex-wife, Jennifer (Cait Moira), who sees through his charm and agrees to give him the $30,000—but only if he humiliates himself in front of their young son as a warning of what he might become. Stan’s pride will not allow him to do it. Unable to follow through, he visits his uncle Terry (Shawn McAninch), a dying man intent on blowing his life savings on drugs and women. Terry refuses to give Stan any of his money until after his death—but when he suddenly passes away, his unsigned will leaves Stan empty-handed. Out of options, Stan receives an offer he can’t refuse from the local mob boss.
“Once a renowned poker champion, Stan has descended into debt and desperation.”
The fun of the series comes with the show’s creator, Thor Moreno, insisting on torturing his character until there’s no way out. James Serpento plays Stan as a man high on pride and low on luck. Stan is essentially the lovable dog slowly being pushed into a corner, and we get to witness the godlike creator, Moreno, find creative and outlandish ways to make Stan’s journey as tough as possible.
Stan Ritchie has a good cast of mob and casino ne’er-do-wells who pop in and out of Stan’s life. Each person helps make him a sympathetic protagonist along the way. It’s a very thin tightrope that Moreno is walking. If you can get past the ultra-low-budget indie production, you’re in for a wild ride.
"…you're in for a wild ride."
