Good clean fun
B.Barrier | Savannah, TN | 11/26/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"No bad language, no innuendo, just good clean fun from Bill Engvall and Billy Ray Cyrus. I had no idea that Bill could really act. Sure some of the jokes are corny, but just sit back, relax, and just enjoy."
Innocuous, Family-Friendly Comedy...
Benjamin J Burgraff | Las Vegas | 10/13/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I'm a fan of Bill Engvall, one of the nicest, most family-friendly of the 'blue-collar' comedians, and "Bait Shop" plays to his strengths, as the debt-ridden but easy-going owner of a run-down bait shop frequented by an array of likable oddballs. With the bank calling in his mortgage, he is about to lose everything, and resign himself to a menial job with his smarmy, successful father-in-law, 'The Mattress King' (Harve Presnell)...but the Bass Masters Professional Fishing Tournament is in town, with a $50,000 prize, and a rules loophole that allows him (an amateur and past champion) to compete...against the world's greatest angler, egotistical Hot Rod Johnson (Billy Ray Cyrus). Can Engvall, with his rusty boat, ancient equipment, and long-latent fishing instincts, defeat state-of-the-art, high-powered 21st century technology? Do you have any doubt?
This isn't 'classic' comedy in any sense, but it never falls into the rut of 'toilet humor' (a frequent problem of the films of Engvall's peers), and it does promote positive family values, which is a happy 'plus'. Engvall is a 'natural', on camera, possessing the same kind of screen 'likability' as Tim Allen, and he and Cyrus play off each other surprisingly well.
"Bait Shop" isn't a 'must-have' kind of film, but makes a pretty good 'family movie night' entry!
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