'The Head Thieves' Theatrical Homage to 'My Name is Earl'

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[EDITOR'S NOTE: This film had a theatrical run in late 2016 and is available on some VOD platforms. The world is awaiting word of a DVD release.]

SkitBags Entertainment provides the dual treats of a return to the '80s and an homage to the 2000s Greg Garcia redneck NBC sitcom "My Name is Earl" regarding the film "The Head Thieves." SkitBags principal Mickey Gooch, Jr. shines as very recently released ex-con/stoner/dimwit Graham Castillo, who rapidly recruits his adopted Filipino brothers Frankie and Duncan to assist with a caper. Presumably real-life siblings Dante and Dion Basco respectively play Frankie and Duncan.

The festival love for this textbook indie flick includes the Best Feature Award at the 2016 Atlanta Underground Film Festival and the same honor at the 2016 Other Venice Film Festival. The opening scene of "Thieves" replacing the standard disclaimer regarding no animals being harmed in filming the movie with a statement regarding the killing of three cows reflect the offbbeat humor behind the wins.

Graham overhearing the guys who occupy the cell next to him during his unfortunate incarceration discuss the hiding place of the loot from their last job inspires our hero to enlist the aid of his brothers for the can't fail mission to recover the money. 

Before commencing the execution of this sure thing, Graham moves into the home of his hostile and abusive mother; mush of the humor regarding this relates to Mom blatantly favoring the adopted boys, who have never left home.

The typical (but still amusing) ensuing hi-jinks include an extended search for the loot, a well-executed (pun intended) accidental killing, the repeated disappearance of their not-so-sweet ride, and encounters with assorted freaks/losers. These include a hotel clerk who makes Norman Bates look like Conrad Hilton.

A strong contender for best scene is one in which a clueless Graham brings a hooker back to his hotel room. His surprise on finding out that she is not there because of his charms and then discovering that they have a very excited audience is hilarious. Another strong contender for most memorable moment has an effeminate inmate screaming and running from burlier prisoners.

Other nicely played lowest common denominator humor relates to repeated references to losing a menial job leading to confronting a C-List celebrity and an unrelated romance stemming from an online meeting, 

All of this amounts to an amusing (and occasionally hilarious) 90 minutes of redneck humor. It will not make you think, and you will not learn anything. Not that there is anything wrong with that.