Stevie D (2016) User Reviews

Odd Generational comparison

[rhardy-390-701341 · 4/10 · 14 December 2016]

I find that we all grow up hearing our parents tell us that this or that is not acting, that in their day sew-n-sew was X and he did Z

This movie...seems to be an actual representation of that view. Sure when you see a movie that is a lower budget you will find that 1 lone guy usually is the movies only draw, that he/she carries it. It reminds me of how many BAD MOVIES were bearable, to me at least, if Luke Goss played the main roll.

This is NOT one of those films.

In the movie, hand to heart, everyone UNDER 40 sucked per acting and delivery and everyone OVER 50 owned each specific role. I have to ponder a reality where geriatric actors are able to "own" a role, even if it is a bit part with 30 seconds of screen time, yet the lead actor and the co-lead struggle to deliver ANYTHING that can be compared to genuine.

I assume it is simple experience....except I can hardly, for the life of me, think of an actor that was BAD in his late 20's and early 30's, that morphed into a PARAGON OF ACTING SKILL !

So, either you have it or you don't. Bad writing can only cover so many of the excuses before it falls onto the actors.

There ARE some WELL acted scenes in this movie....but NONE of them relate to anyone who is not of Social Security.

The rating, at the time of this writing, is a LOADED and FIXED 8.5. I assume a "family and friends" rating :) The movie is to comedy fans what a low budget zombie flick is to zombie fans. Bearable but leaving them trying to explain to other's why they should have enjoyed it......

Solid acting and delivery from Hal Linden,Al Sapienza, John Aprea...sadly they were NOT the focus of the movie and only allowed this to move from a potential 2 to a 4.

Good acting can only fix so much as well :)

Mildly engaging

[PJ-2158 · 6/10 · 3 October 2020]

As Rom Coms go, it fit the bill. The plot was interesting and the acting was good enough, but not excellent, especially the leads. Torrey DeVitto is lovely and I liked her character, though I didn't buy her change of opinions about Chris Cordone's character. He was likable as the two main characters, but I don't see how anyone could possibly mistake their totally different personalities. John Aprea and Kevin Chapman were both very good as the boss and his henchman. I would agree that it was better than most of the low budget films in this genre today. If you have a couple of hours that you don't know what to do with, you could do worse.

Low budget, uneven acting, good story, mediocre writing, and yet a good (not great) story

[janet-42-167472 · 6/10 · 4 June 2023]

6/10 may be harsh, but i will not not put it up against similar production values - you have to put it up against all production values (it ain't no godfather, but it's watchable). I've seen a few magnificent cheap budget films that were better than this, and this one really could have been a great film if not for the flaws i will be detailing.

I liked the story. It was actually original, although some of the relationships were strained and unexplainable (for instance, a cold to hot leading lady just did not cut it, nor several other relationships).

Seeing Hal Linden as one of the minor support characters was a shear delight. Another reviewer here noted that there seemed to be a remarkable rift between the quality of the young and old actors on this film - and I would agree.

The two best things I can say about this film is that I watched it all the way through - and for me that's saying something. I don't tolerate bad films for any length of time. Also, the music was the very best thing about this film. It was jazzy, professional, fully integrated into the story and the scenes, and way ahead of the rest of the flawed story/acting/scenes.

One other complaint was the cinematography and staging. It was amateur. Again, I may be a bit harsh here, but the camera was often too focused, without the wide sweeps that tell part of the story, from strip clubs, to restaurants, to hotel rooms, and even a golf club. If you have good equipment, use it.

Watchable but not much more

[disturbedtool68 · 2/10 · 18 March 2018]

A watchable vanity project for the writer, director, lead actor but whether it leads to anything more substantial is highly debatable, since the characters were mostly cliches, the situations were full of 'just happens to' moments, like a commercial actor on tv just happens to look exactly like a spoiled trust fund kid who just happens to be in an unfortunate accident, and the actor just happens to be paired with a gangster type gumba who just happens to want to be an actor so they can have a bond that becomes a plot point... on and on. His skill at playing two diametrically opposed characters that he himself created should have been more pronounced, but he cant get beyond the one dimensional limitations he wrote for them. An EXTREMELY nice, thoughtful, helpful, caring guy who seriously, not sarcastically, uses a word like 'lovely' when speaking to a women vs an EXTREMELY obnoxious, narcissistic spoiled brat who belittles everyone around him and tows bikini babes around like they are his pets. That being said, he is watchable and likable as the nice guy and is assured some nice lifetime movie channel (is that still on?) cheesy romantic comedies in the near future.

A fun night out at the movies!

[jaygill-1 · 17 December 2016]

As indies go, this IS AN INDIE for sure. By that I mean it is easy to see that there were budget constraints and maybe more time could have been spent editing in some spots. But overall, this film hits the mark, tells a good story with likable, well written characters brought to life by a solid ensemble cast.

At the opening of the film, I was concerned that I was going to be subjected to 2 hrs of a predictable, mafia-trope-laden tale of caricature bad guys from the East Coast doing and saying "down and dirty" East Coast things (in LA). While there were elements of this (strip clubs, the uber-machismo of the film's antagonist and his legion of sycophantic followers) the story quickly settled into an engaging and charming ride for the audience.

In the end, this is a wonderful film. Chris Cordone scores the proverbial hat trick - It is well written, directed and acted with ALL the characters from main cast to supporting players to the bit parts so well developed and ALL contributing to the story. A fun tale that I characterize as: "Prince & The Pauper meets the confluence of RomCom, Mafia, ActorLife & Noir"

Really enjoyed it

[joyfulae · 7/10 · 20 December 2016]

Based on some of the reviews that I have read, I didn't expect this movie to be all that good but I was gladly wrong. Every actor in this film did an amazing job bringing their characters to life which is something that is rare during films these days there's always that one actor that just doesn't get it quite right, but I loved all the performances. I really loved the romance between "Stevie" and Daria I personally love Torrey DeVitto which was why I watched this movie and I think she and Chris did an amazing job chemistry wise. The hit-man were a great add for the comedic aspect of the movie, you will possibly find yourself chuckling at their antics. Jumping back a little, I LOVED how the movie started with the black screen and someone telling the audience that Stevie is dead, that really drew me in and made me pity the character more and more throughout the film. I also loved near the end where everything was coming to be making you really sit at the edge of your seat.

The only thing that I do agree with from the critics is the length. I do think it was a tad bit long for the plot to not be so complex, but with that being said every scene flowed together nicely, there wasn't anything that looked out of order or out of place.

All in all I thought that this was a great film to watch, it's in the mix of a romcom but not quite haha. 7/10 Stars

Fun, overachieving film - but what's up with the sound?

[patrickbhentges · 7/10 · 19 April 2021]

This movie just autoplsyed on YouTube while I was writing a letter, and I was extremely surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Some great actors in supporting roles and a real beauty as a bonus, in a movie that although predictable was nonetheless entertaining.

My only issue was the sound; in a few scenes it sounded like one actor was on a speakerphone while the other sounded fine.

Ignore the haters, it's a fun watch.

Charming, funny, engaging film

[mialicia516 · 9/10 · 15 December 2016]

I really enjoyed this film. The relationships are all really thoughtful, even the hit men have loads of personality and a natural and funny rhythm with their banter. They provide a lot of genuine comic relief, and they are almost like watching a funny old married couple. I also really enjoyed the connection between Michael (the fake Stevie) and Lenny (played by the fabulous Kevin Chapman). It was fun to watch Lenny go from thinking "we're doing this poor sap a favor" if the fake Stevie (Michael) gets bumped off in their ruse...to actually putting a guard on him because he wants to protect him from getting hurt. Could it have been edited a little tighter? Sure! But given that it's a low budget film, and I've seen so many of those, I think Chris Cordone did a lovely job, and it's obvious he squeezed every bit of substance out of that budget that he could...especially with all the great casting. I loved seeing John Aprea do his thing, better than anyone else. Such a natural. And I also really enjoyed seeing the great Hal Linden! He is a treasure. Torrey DeVito is beautiful and does a nice turn as Daria. Even the characters that have less than 5 minutes of screen time make the most of what they've got and bring something engaging to the film. I think it's a refreshing and fun film, in a sea of remakes and big budget boring movies. I like movies with characters I can actually care about it...and Steve D. delivers.

Good fun, entertaining

[mww-589-420209 · 7/10 · 28 August 2017]

We enjoyed this. Lots of fun, nicely done story. Solid script. Actors/characters were pretty good. The direction lacked, a bit. Same guy wrote, directed, produced and starred in it, apparently. Might have been better to bring in another director? It just didn't "pop" as much as I think it could have with the script he wrote.

I liked it!

[dent-26890 · 9/10 · 15 December 2016]

My aunt and me decided to get this movie on iTunes because it sounded fun. She has been going through a hard time and wanted to just chill out and relax. I don't think we were expected to be so entertained by such a sweet movie. I don't usually write reviews but I see A LOT of movies and this one really hits the spot. It was funny but also had great heart. The guy who plays the lead is very handsome and I totally believed him in both roles. There are a TON of supporting characters you WILL recognize from other movies and TV shows. Hal Linden from Barney Miller is in it and what a treat it is to see him. My aunt said she had a major crush on him back in the day. The lead girl is good in the movie but something about her makes her seem stuck up. I don't know, maybe she was just acting. I would totally recommend this movie to anyone who was looking for something fun and entertaining. We both really enjoyed it.

Charming and Intelligent Homage to Bad Guys, Classic Film and Los Angeles.

[djwills · 9/10 · 29 December 2016]

I recently saw Stevie D with a friend at the Laemmle theater on Wilshire in LA. Going in with little knowledge – beyond the title and poster – I kind of had reservations about sitting through a movie I hadn't had time to vet.

In short, I absolutely loved it. Stevie D is an homage to a number of films, film genres (and sub-genres) – Film Noir / LA Noir, Dead Ringer, Sisters, A Stolen Life, Scorsese, references to Cassavetes, old movie posters on the walls of the agent's office, etc. etc. There was even a little Rock Hudson (in his duel role) / Doris Day in Pillow Talk. For this reason, it would be easy to say the film was at times "derivative" – but that's the point, and all involved are obviously in on the joke.

The main reason I enjoyed the film so much is because it's effortlessly charming in a way I rarely see anymore. Also, every actor is strong – there's no weak link. The male lead (Chris Cordone) is terrific and extremely charismatic. He has a Cary Grant quality, which he utilizes wisely switching roles from suave to insane. The female lead (Torrey DeVitto) is stunning to look at and an overwhelmingly captivating presence. Other notables include Hal Linden, John Aprea (who appeared in four of my favorite films of all time - Bullitt, Caged Heat, The Godfather: Part II, and The Stepford Wives), and Kevin Chapman (from The Boondock Saints).

My only criticism would be that the last third of the film needed to be tightened up a little. The pacing is generally rapid and then at the end it seems to take longer than it should to reach its conclusion.

Overall, this is a real gem – and I'm giving it 9 stars because I'm so sick of going to the movies and having mega-budget junk constantly rammed down my throat. Filmmakers need to get back to basics, take a look at classic movies and learn how to craft a good story – and these guys obviously did.

Funny and entertaining

[izzynfrank · 9/10 · 19 December 2016]

Saw the trailer to the film and took a chance based a few of the cast members I like from TV. Funny and entertaining the whole way. I like the look of the film and the"realness" of the dialogue and acting. Definitely a Get Shorty kind of thing but also has a love story which worked for me. Good to see Hal Linden again as well as Kevin Chapman, who I've liked since he was on The Brotherhood. Not familiar with the lead actor but it kind of worked for the story as he is supposed to be a nobody. The story really surprised me along the way and the two hit men add a needed laugh at the right moments. All of the character parts were good in the movie, which is something that I like. Not exactly a mob movie, not a romantic comedy but somewhere in between. Would definitely recommend.

Well Rounded Story and Well Developed Characters

[jtmlive · 8/10 · 21 December 2016]

The Real Stevie D is a funny, thought provoking and one can relate to the characters. The plot of the story is thought out and well executed by the entire cast. Really enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to all my friends to go and see! The role of each character is real and human and brings the story to life. With every twist and turn in the plot the viewer gets more and more of a glimpse of the plot and it's intricacy. Christopher Cordone, not only wrote and directed the film but essentially plays 2 different characters with ease and believable. The film is very well cast and each characters lines are perfectly written for them. Go see it and ENJOY!

The Real Deal

[tgdelaney-964-959293 · 9/10 · 17 March 2017]

Who or what is for real? This movie is, and in so many ways. It's a sharp satire on the mob. It's a wry commentary on the acting life. It's a witty dig at the LA lifestyle (the west part at least). It's a sweet, comic commentary on love and family. And it's a classic mistaken-identity farce. Watch it, and watch it over again. You'll get more out of it each time.

A fun, engaging picture.

[jpgiuliotti · 9/10 · 16 January 2017]

I was thoroughly entertained. The main reason why is that it had a plethora of likable characters and the story itself was quite simply, fun!

With a mix of good established and up-and-coming actors propelling the dialog, Chris Cordone's script manages to pull off the romantic comedy set against a backdrop of "Mob Affairs" without falling into the trap of relying too heavily on cliché (there are some, but they are minor and serve to move the story.).

All in all, if you are a fan of charisma and chemistry between romantic leads, witty banter between hardened Mafia torpedoes and of course, the great Hal Linden (who plays a wonderful supporting role), then check this one out. It's a good time out!.

One more thing; Cordone portrays the title role as a complete jerk while going 180 degrees with his doppelganger. Very nice job.

Very funny

[vchimpanzee · 15 January 2020]

Chris Cordone does a great job here, playing two entirely different characters who just happen to look alike. And he wrote and directed the movie too, so this just adds to how great his work is. It's kind of a silly formula but it works for me, and everything he has done is worthwhile.

Here's the real proof of how much I enjoyed the movie: as I would look to see how much time was left, the end of the movie was in sight and I didn't want it to be over.

And yet something happened that made the ending kind of a disappointment, so I no longer felt the way I had felt. But that's okay because things got better.

I recognized Hal Linden, who I knew so well as Barney Miller. I've thought I saw him before, but this time it was really him. And he's still got it. As of whenever this movie was made.

And there were plenty of other good performances from leading actors. Let's not forget the hit men, who seem a little threatening but can't seem to do anything right.

And we do get to see Lenny act in a real movie. He's actually good!

The music was great. Mostly jazz, and I don't mean smooth jazz.

Is this family friendly? Not really. There are the scenes in the strip club, and in the version I saw the sound goes out a lot while the mouth of the character speaking is blurry. But I get the impression a lot of words were left out that would be fine on broadcast TV.

This was a very funny movie.