Haunted Happy Hour isn’t framed art in a museum; it’s a bacon double cheeseburger from a drive-thru, which is something I prize higher. Bremen has deliberately made cinematic comfort food, following tried and true methods. The structure is totally awesome 80s style, with all the satisfying simplicity of popcorn butter. The character dialogue is reminiscent of 90s TV sitcoms, with timing and style marching as well. Not only do these old-school tricks still work, but they also add an element of familiarity that welcomes sedation. It is the perfect material to turn your brain off, with extra enhancement when combined with recreational mood altering. Combining this with a bag of Mr. Stinky will get you more numb and dumb than just smoking alone.
“Bremen has deliberately made cinematic comfort food, following tried and true methods.”
There are some standout elements to Haunted Happy Hour. First, the music is outstanding. Playing over a sharp-looking opening credit sequence of neon cocktail signs, the masterful synth score by Todd Aaron keeps impressing. I already like synth scores, but Aaron’s gets into the wicked good zone repeatedly. There is also a selection of licensed original songs by Chris Saffle that are all superior tunes. It adds a ton of production value when you are watching a scene, and a really, really good song is playing in the background. I also dug the location for the bar, with the giant chrome brewing vats that line the background. It was an inviting place to come in and stay awhile in your mind. I could see myself on one of the stools, watching Lady Surfer Tuckus splashing on the overhead TV.
Bremen is the perfect actor for the material he writes. He has an easygoing way that is instantly likable, with a way of expressing frustration that is audience identification gold. Macolino is another excellent performer, with the uncanny ability to be snarky and charming at the same time. I could spend hours on a couch, smoking out to 227 reruns with a guy like Macolino. Then there is the genius move of casting superstar Eric Roberts as the ghost. Already the world record holder for screen credits, Roberts makes every last movie he is in all that more fun. In Haunted Happy Hour, Roberts brings the haunted house down. His drunken ghost is the ultimate payoff, with the suddenness that generates hope for the possibility of a sequel. I would be happy with more happy hours from Bremen, as Haunted Happy Hour is bubble bath for your brain at the end of the day.
For screening information, visit the Haunted Happy Hour official website.
"…isn't framed art...it's a bacon double cheeseburger..."
