Bert Kreischer is a pretty divisive character in popular media today. Either you love him and his comedy, or you cannot stand him and anything he’s associated with. That’s what has made the public reception to The Machine so incredibly divisive, and unwarrantedly so. Yet at the same time the film is a uniquely made and conceived premise that mostly succeeds.
The Machine follows the story of Bert Kreischer, who plays himself, in the modern day. Kreischer is now a loving husband and parent yet also still loves to party. So much so that he gets in public hot water and is now trying to change his life. When he throws a birthday party for his eldest daughter and gets a surprise appearance from his father (Mark Hamill), things look bleak. However, When Kreischer and his father are abducted by the Russian mafia, taken to Russia and asked to return something he took over 20 years prior during his famed trip to the country, the pair learn just how much trouble they’re actually in.
What I think impressed me the most was how much care was actually taken in crafting an entertaining, yet solidly thought-out story. The filmmakers, and Kreischer himself, could’ve cashed in on his brand and his story. Yet, it was clear that they wanted to not only make a movie but make a good one and have a great time doing so. I appreciated this level of care, not only in crafting a whole new story around the film’s inspiration, but in re-telling the original “Machine” story as well.
Of course I have to acknowledge the level of acting in the film. Mark Hamill is obviously great, and he shows how much of a professional he really is here. Kreischer, meanwhile, is obviously not an actor, but still surprises in some emotional moments. These, however, are few and far between. The rest of the cast, including Iva Babic as Irina, had their moments and elevated the film’s entertainment value, if nothing else.
Where the film truly leaves it’s mark is in its blend of action and comedy. Kreischer brings his brand of comedy to the film, which is equally as divisive as his big personality. What surprised me most, however, is how much comedic chemistry he and Hamill have. They’re funny individually and have even better moments together.
The action, while it has its awkward moments, is fun and entertaining. They include enough sequences to never leave the film feeling boring, and that’s really what matters most. There are some parts that just seem a little strange, but these are well hidden. I very much appreciated that they didn’t make Kreischer and his father much a part of the action, instead opting to have them act as everyday people who would inevitably be scared shitless the moment shooting started.
That said, I do think The Machine could have been 30 minutes shorter than it actually was. You can definitely feel the 2-hour runtime in parts, which doesn’t really work in the film’s favor.
Final Thoughts
It’s hard to review a movie like this. The film isn’t a masterpiece, yet they never intended it to be so. What they did do is set out to create a silly, entertaining, funny action comedy, and they did that in spades. While a long runtime and some strange acting choices hold it back a little bit, I enjoyed watching it and I laughed much more than I expected. Anyone who’s a fan of Kreischer or his brand of humor will like this movie, but it’s a toss up for anyone else.
