Of course, it’s the season for a satirical tale about President Donald J. Trump going to prison, and this tale comes from filmmaker Joe Barber’s feature film, Prisoner Trump: The Don of Cell Block B. Donald Trump likes to make deals on anything and everything. He is visiting with an important Saudi investor at his palatial mansion to create a shark-themed water park. Not-so-amused at the idea of working with a Saudi, the deal is made, and Trump tells his Secret Service to ‘take care of’ his guest. The agent misinterprets ‘take care of’ as, you know, ‘take care of,’ resulting in the investor’s death, and President Trump is sent to prison.
While in jail, Donald meets Rudy Giuliani, whom he forgot was convicted himself. The two devise a plan to rule the prison as its President and turn it into the most beautiful prison ever. Soon, Donald learns that “he who controls the food controls the prison.” This inspires Donald to import the delicious Ivana Cakes from outside the prison and create a new prison currency called “Trump Bucks.” The way it works is that a single Ivana Cake backs each Trump Buck. Needing an inside supplier of cakes, Trump turns to the master baker and fellow prisoner Larion (Alex Veadov).
Now, with Trump’s new economy in place at the prison, his plan is moving smoothly. The problem is that everyone keeps eating the Ivana cakes. As Trump’s influence grows, factions emerge within the prison. Tyler, previously a leader within the prison, watches closely. If you thought politics in the real world was dangerous, think about politics in prison. On second thought, it’s not all that different.
“…President Trump is sent to prison.”
I get that we’re in the middle of a contentious election and that Trump is an easy target for comedy, which might piss off half the country. Prisoner Trump: The Don of Cell Block B is harmless fun. I liken it to Medea Goes to Jail. Jim Storm has a good handle on the former President with his mannerisms and catchphrases. He plays him as a narcissistic schlub rather than the evil fascist he’s portrayed as in the media. I see him more as Ernest (who also went to jail) but with a lot of money and influence.
Joe Barber’s film takes the common attributes we’ve all assigned to Trump and turns it into a caricature. Sure, conservatives will roll their eyes, and liberals will cry Jim Storm didn’t go far enough. Now, all the film needs is an excuse to put him in prison, letting loose the Trumpian wind-up toy while giving us all a valuable lesson in inflation. The humor throughout the film is very Three Stooges silly but without the slapping. Along with all the Trump gags, his fellow inmates consist of emerging actors, keeping the overall tone light.
In the end, while I had some fun with Prisoner Trump: The Don of Cell Block B, I wish the jokes and plot were edgier and darker in tone. If anything, this is weirdly a nice diversion to the political mess we’re currently in.
For more information, visit the official Prisoner Trump: The Don of Cell Block B site.
"…[a] weirdly a nice diversion to the political mess we’re currently in."
