Chillicothe (1999) User Reviews

A promising first effort

[nefnet · 6/10 · 1 July 2001]

Chillicothe comes across as the product of a young filmmaker with too many good ideas who wants to spend them all at once-- the result is an interesting but uneven new chapter in the slacker canon, a kind of bildungsroman that has its own voice while borrowing heavily from those who have come before (Kevin Smith, Richard Linklater, et al).

I must admit, however, Chillicothe is charming, buoyed by a likeable cast, excellent production values (for an independent film), and a clever script from writer/director Todd Edwards, who also plays one of the film's central characters. "Write what you know," many English teachers have admonished me, and Edwards has taken this advice to heart, crafting a coming-of-age story for the post-university set that's as sharp and real as it could be. Edwards shows himself to have a keen eye for comic pacing and dramatic irony, but unfortunately he seems to need a little help with organization and pacing, because the film suffers from editing that could only be called schizophrenic. One moment, it looks like a typical Gen X comedy, the next it might be more like a music video or documentary. It seems almost like Edwards is using the film as a demo reel to sell his ability to a major studio, which is fine I suppose but his vision suffers because of it.

Poor organization aside, I can heartily recommend this movie to friends and stangers alike who can't get enough slackin', and anybody else looking for a sharp, mildly edgy laugh. Good job, Todd.

Great independent film from the makers of the Hoodwinked movies

[paxman356 · 8/10 · 20 November 2017]

I was living in Anderson, IN. I got most of my movies back then ad the library. One day, I happened upon this video. I thought, what the heck. Boy was a pleasantly surprised.

The story bounces from one character to another, focusing on the friendship of four young males living in Tulsa. The last, Wade, sees his friends getting married and having kids, while he keeps pining about the one that got away.

Yeah, there are lots of pop culture references. Some situations have you going, yeah, I've been through that. Like figuring out what CD you need to sell so you can get gas for your car.

In the end, it's satisfying because it doesn't cut corners and just give you the happy ending. It feels real, unlike much that comes out of Hollywood.

So I implore you, if you find this one someplace (which is getting harder and harder to do... I have my copy) watch it. If you like it like I did, watch the three other Todd Edwards films out there (Hoodwinked and Hoodwinked Too, and Jeffie Was Here). You'll be glad you did.

Find It, Watch It.

[ge-ranma · 8/10 · 17 May 2008]

Chillicothe's quality as a good independent film (which can be hard to find) can't be over or under stated. I rented it on a whim and obviously loved it enough to seek it out and watch it at least 5 more times, because it is very good. As a male "aimless, twenty-something" myself, I find it harmonizes a similar tune hit by "Clerks" on the topic of finding a point to lives we lead everyday.

On one hand it is what it is. And that is, not only a low budget film, but a film with a very low budget feel. At times during the film I'm almost un-enjoyably aware that all but maybe one or two actors aren't good, the visuals are pretty bland, and the funny, but semi-lackluster dialog seems to miss an intangible spice. (how it ever got an R rating, I have no clue) And so at some early point in the film you find yourself wondering why you care about these sort of whining losers stuck in their boring lives, burdened by problems far too bland to be entertaining.

On the other hand, Chillicothe turns out to have a surprising amount of great laughs, a great story, and should actually leave you slightly inspired about the topic of striving for meaning and finding direction in the confusion of life. A film has to have a good amount of heart and truth to pull that off, and Chillicothe definitely does.

One of the few independent films worth watching

[sgrizzle · 10/10 · 4 February 2003]

Picked this movie up as one of those movies at the video store they only order one copy of. Took me 3 weeks to actually catch in stock and I found out why. I believe this is one of the best movies put out on it's subject matter. Anyone who enjoys a good laugh and the company of friends will like this movie. This movie could be used as the conclusive documentary on the life of 20-somethings in America. Everyone will see themselves and their friends in this movie. If you don't like it, you might want to look around because you don't have any friends.

Eyes on the Prize

[herbalbabe · 10/10 · 2 February 2003]

Fantastic. I am shocked by how smart, funny and true this film was. For any of us who've been caught up in the societal myth that says you're no one until you're completed by being part of a couple, this movie doesn't just say something -- it shouts it. Much smarter than Kevin Smith -- not a clone, it's much better than that (and I like Kevin Smith). It makes you think, it makes you laugh, it has a point and a message without hitting you over the head with it. This is one of the few movies I'd bother to own, because it's one of the few I'd want to watch over and over.

bleah

[Hubajube · 2/10 · 29 November 2001]

An extremely dull and amateurish movie. The director's commentary is much funnier than the movie was. You get to listen to a couple of people that *really* like the movie. You also get to find out that in one scene the actor's shirt deliberately matches the stove. Yeah.

First time I watched it, I wasn't ready for something so smart

[PickUrFeetInPoughkeepsie · 9/10 · 27 October 2001]

When I first watched "Chillicothe" I was in a very inattentive state of mind and could only seem to find flaws in the way the movie was paced, how it was split up into sections about each of the characters (sometimes with very awkward timing), and the sort of cliche storyline of 20-something males having trouble with finding the right woman. With the exception of a few moments (namely the genius Travis "Stanley Kubrick fanatic amateur coffee house film critic" character and the "Man from Chillicothe" story) I was unimpressed. I decided to give it a second spin a few days later, and I was blown away. "Chillicothe" is in no way cliche. It deals with frighteningly realistic situations that 20 something males get caught up in and delivers smart humor, realistic humor, as a result of those situations. For those who are tired of over-the-top, set up for a punchline type of humor, you may divine something in this little directoral debut here. Very subtle humor at many points. You may find yourself laughing at how much you can relate to how pathetic the characters can be, and the next minute taking in something deep because you can relate to how well the characters express their feelings. And for those who think all indie films should include a Star Wars reference, this one is no exception. And once again, man, that Travis "wannabe film critic" character is genius.

Post-college coming-of-age story

[mercedes21 · 5/10 · 8 September 2001]

I liked the story, a group of guys one by one figuring out the rest of their lives. However, I rated the movie as a 5/10 because for some reason, the end of the movie rolled around, and I had yet to find a reason to truly care what happened to the characters. But, there were some very funny moments, and I would probably watch this movie again someday. ..

laughing from the start.

[adamp-6 · 8/10 · 11 February 2002]

I saw a rough cut of this here sucker, and from the moment that jogger guy with the army socks and the powder blue workout suit appeared in the opening credits, I was a-chucklin' and a-chortlin'. Sure, we don't see Jogger Guy again (heck, he's not even credited on the IMDb), but his presence is a good omen for the rest of the movie.

Oh yeah, there's some good dialogue in it as well, especially if you're into pop culture references (which I am) and you live or have lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma (which I do). Although, the city's not as bad as Wade says it is. Consider it artistic license on his part, I guess.

It's a good li'l indie flick, and you shan't be going awry if you decide to pick it up. If you can find it, that is.

Ever been a dreamer.

[brando-4 · 8/10 · 19 February 1999]

I was enthralled by watching my life story unfold before me on the screen. It is a must see for all the dreamers who still haven't found what they are looking for. Todd-Never, ever sell "The Joshua Tree"

If you can only miss one movie this year.....

[transmonicon · 1/10 · 8 March 2002]

In its thinly veiled efforts to elbow itself into the annals of cult movie fame, this Kevin Smith clone leaves no self-aggrandizing banter unsung, no ingenuous Star Wars allusion unturned. Chillicothe forces its narrative through overly constructed melodramatic moments such as the story of Chillicothe (aka Chasing Chillicothe). In true cult film fashion, popular cultural references do abound. They are, however, clumsy and not just in their placement within the dialogue, but in and of themselves (for instance, an allusion to the board game Mousetrap?!?). Even the self-referents in this movie are somewhat weak in their complete absence of detail. Names like Pavlovian Dog and Johnny Perfect initially offer up some hope for the minutia desperately needed to create the complex world which Chillicothe could be. Unfortunately both of these gems are later dissolved in indulgent explanation (Pavlovian Dog was that one vulture circling over every dying relationship and ultimately his passing leads to Wade's redemption, etc. etc.). If everything is explicated, there can be no unreal reality in which to invest and their can be no cult. On a technical note, between awkwardly shifting subject positions, charmless discontinuities, and hurried speech, the film was barely comprehendible. On a personal note, i found the whole movie somewhat absurd. Chillicothe attempts to reposit the ordinarily tortured life of the college educated whiteboy in a universe of glorious possibility. This is a universe wherein all kinds may exist, but only beautiful girls and self-absorbed nerds matter.

Amazingly well told story brought to life by great characters and good film making!

[film1999 · 10/10 · 9 April 1999]

The film tells a great story in a new and refreshing manner. The films format allows the stories to be intertwined, but still has the integrity of being one film, not a collection of segments. All of the characters are great, the film work is amazing (especially for a first flick!), and the story is just funny, and true to human nature. I definitely suggest this film to anybody interested in a comedy with a great story. The narrator also adds an awesome dimension to the film. Many thumbs up!

director's comments

[Blueroom · 8/10 · 22 July 2000]

I wrote and directed "Chillicothe" in 1997, and the 3 years that have followed have been a real education. An audience favorite at Sundance '99, this film has been screened for dozens of festival audiences across the country with tremendous response.

Thank-you to everyone who has rallied behind it. I am still very proud of "Chillicothe" and what it represents to me and my producing partners, but as Willie Nelson says, "I can't wait to get on the road again." So keep an eye out for us; this is only the beginning! I promise the next one will be easier to pronounce. -Todd Edwards ...

x2

[dingle96 · 10/10 · 23 September 1999]

I saw this film when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. I loved it so much I saw it again two days later. I have never been able to relate to any other movie as much as I did to Chillicothe. Call all your guy friends over and go watch this movie. You won't be sorry you did.

What makes this movie so good?

[Dean-51 · 4 August 1999]

Todd and Cory Edwards' first feature film, "Chillicothe" emerges into a culture awash in darkly menacing media images as a refreshing effort. After a seemingly endless string of "Pulp Fiction" knock-offs by a variety of upstart filmmakers, "Chillicothe's" sensitive human drama, sincere without a trace of schmaltz, seems exotic. "Chillicothe " is the story of four male friends drifting along in the low-rent doldrums now common among recent college graduates. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma and on the campus of a small Indiana liberal arts college, the movie follows the odyssey of the four friends as they make decisions about marriage and careers. One character, Wade, played by Todd Edwards, becomes the story's focus early in the film. The four begin to disintegrate when one of the group marries the woman who agrees, in the story's opening moments, to go out with him if he shaves his gotee. Over the next few months, the remaining three friends split up. Wade and his older brother (played by real-life older brother Cory Edwards) move into an apartment together and the last of the four friends finds himself cloistered with two flamboyant, irritable Latin men. After a particularly soul numbing day running video editing machines for finicky ad executives, Wade abruptly departs for home where he re-enrolls in some art classes at his alma mater. In the end, the stability of familiar territory helps Wade confront the fear and indecision preventing him from pursuing his dream of becoming a painter. When we last see Wade he is working toward an advanced degree in painting at NYU. Unlike so many independent films of late, "Chillicothe" is strikingly original. In our post-Tarantino daze, contemporary films, especially small budget features, have tended toward obsession with darker human experiences and a technical and structural emphasis on creating a disjointed, pastiche feel. What makes "Chillicothe" different is its trust in the power of a simple story worth telling. While its drama emerges from a very familiar story, everything about the film seems fresh. In fact, it is the familiarity of its story that gives "Chillicothe" its power. It is a story for all of us who have felt lost and alone, dreaming of doing what we really want to do and of finding lasting love. Above all, it is its open-heartedness that gives "Chillicothe" an uncanny, but familiar feel. Like walking past a mirror in the hallway and for a split second thinking you are not alone. "Chillicothe" is a moving, engaging film with wide appeal, but perhaps especially so for those of us who meet ourselves head on in its characters. A world of contracting horizons, of vast moral confusion among our elders, and an addictive need for and paranoid fear of love , connection and roots has left many of us floundering outside the structured environment of college life. The story presented in "Chillicothe" is one of bravery among our peers in the face of these common threats. Ultimately, "Chillicothe" speaks so strongly about our generation because it speaks from a perspective of faith. Part of Wade's process of destiny seeking involves painting a mural in a Sunday School room. As his journey moves forward we see him sitting in church listening to a sermon. Without being preachy or condescending "Chillicothe" manages to show the practical difference faith can make in the lives of those who possess it.

Even though the film is ultimately affirming of both life and faith, it is not unambiguously so. It's ending is neither completely tidy nor happy, but definitely genuine. We are left not knowing exactly what will happen to Wade, knowing only that he is "out there". Out there taking those frightening steps in the direction of his calling, living a life of hope in the pursuit of an uncertain vocation, looking for the next step, nurturing a belief in the goodness of both life and the possibility of relationship. "Chillicothe" speaks about faith to a distrustful generation while maintaining integrity to a characteristically generation X perspective. The movie manages to bring forth a traditional story in a way that seems fully modern, full of pop culture references and the longing for love and clarity so many in this generation feel. The Edward's brothers first offering sets the agenda for a new genre of film that, like many gen Xer's themselves, looks at life with an eye washed clean with tears, indulging no illusions, yet stubbornly aspiring to a life of bravery and of hope.

a nice surprise

[bob_onitt · 19 August 2000]

So I was talking with my brother (he's in Orlando, I'm in L.A., we're both from Enon, Ohio) on instant messenger the other day about a screenplay I want to write. It's about a guy that can't choose between growing up and staying a teenager forever. He asks if I've seen "Chillicothe," made by a fellow Ohioan (he saw it at a festival last year). "Nope," I reply, and I look for it on imdb and find all these great reviews. I doubted I ever WOULD see it, my pessimism being rooted in working with independent films since I moved out here. Luck has it, a couple of days later I'm rummaging through video tapes in the office and sure enough there is a copy of "Chillicothe". And that's only the first happy accident. The film itself is the big payoff.

Introspection without egotism. Adventurous without overstretching. Emphasizing the strengths of unknown actors. Very little useless dialogue. Nice segues into thoughtful non-sequitors (the video-store guy). And, it has similar characters and situations to those I want to use in MY screenplay, but with an entirely different story. Thanks to all that, I absolutely loved it. A very nice job, Todd. I wish you all the luck in the world. And don't worry about whether people can pronounce the title or not. If they like it (and they will) they will learn.

P.S. - I sold many great CDs to partially fund my move to L.A. from Columbus, using the philosophy of "I will eventually miss it and have to buy it again" (lost almost all of my Hendrix that way). I had to double-check before I wrote this, but I did keep the "The Joshua Tree." Go figure.

Sundance 99's Sparkling Gem of a Movie

[mailkylem · 22 October 2001]

It's too bad that the Edwards brothers chose to release Chillicothe in 1999. It's too bad, because its early buzz was stolen by an inferior little film called The Blair Witch Project that went on to make a hundred kazillion dollars.

Director Todd Edwards lacked the hype, but he delivered the substance: pure, pristine filmmaking. Chillicothe is the story of four post-college guys who want love and meaning. What distances it from the other twentysomething lonely guy pics is that it is WAY FUNNY when it's not being tender, insightful, or sad.

Fortunately for us, Hollywood Video has finally given the film a meaningful distribution outlet. Go rent it and be amazed that nobodies with no money can make a film with more passion, laughter and craft than ninety percent of the drivel at the local multiplex.

Kyle Minor

what a great movie...

[garynamy-2 · 3 January 2002]

I spend months suffering through bloated Hollywood pictures with $100 million price tags...explosions...special effects...stars who can't act...movies that are about nothing...and then suddenly, like a breath of fresh air, I stumble across something like this.

Characters! A dramatic situation! An ending not determined in the first 5 minutes! Believable dialogue! Unpredictability! People I'd actually like to meet and socialize with!

Hooray for indie movies. My new year's resolution is to rent nothing but!

Fantastic

[Areila · 2 December 2002]

I'm from Ohio, and I've been to Chillicothe. The whole reason I picked up this movie at the rental place was because of the name. Wow. I was completely blown away by this movie. There's something so real and true about this movie. Moments of it are so incredibly funny, and then five minutes later you're hit with a moment of such sadness that you want to cry for these characters.