Turbo Cola (2022) User Reviews

Like Clerks (1994), but Uninspired.

[ReaLMoisan · 5/10 · 16 June 2022]

The title says it all. If you want to know what this movie is like, imagine Clerks (1994), but with way less interesting characters and even less humour. If you're unfamiliar with Clerks, so the reference isn't helpful, I'll describe this movie in one sentence. This is your average coming of age story with characters you'll instantly forget, much like the movie.

An intriguing plot can keep an audience engaged in a story, but usually it's the characters that catch and keep our attention. These characters are shallow and cliche, with dialogue and performances that won't leave an impression. They don't promote an emotional investment so it's difficult to care about them or their plights.

It's not a bad movie, it's just uninspired. With the exception of some slightly clever plot elements, the script is emotionally and mentally numbing. There's little to no humour in the script and the dialogue is shallow with no profundities to be found. There's no clever or intellectual insights provided beyond things change after high school is over.

It's a period piece set in the year 1999, and it's an average coming of age story with nothing new to say. What it does say, it says with a blasé script with banal dialogue. If you're feeling nostalgic or just want to watch a great coming of age tale set around that era, you'll find dozens of movies made in the 90's and 00's with more entertainment value. Many will actually reward your investment in time and energy by watching them.

It's kind of OK for what it is

[juboy70 · 5/10 · 15 June 2022]

The film is based on a short play and you can tell - almost everything onscreen takes place in a small gas station store, the only other scenes take place just outside the small gas station store.

It's not really a comedy and the lines that are clearly supposed to be funny just aren't funny. If I were feeling generous, I'd say it has the feel of 'Clerks' to it, but it's nowhere near as accomplished as that film.

The USP here is that everything takes place in the hours leading up to midnight on Millennium NYE. The build up and heist plotting is actually really well done but the remaining 1hr 15m of the film never really lives up to it.

The lead performance is pretty good (the rest of the cast less so) but you very much get the feeling you're watching actors act, rather than any of it coming across natural or believable.

I've also read comments about how it 'accurately recreats the 1999 era', when the reality is that it's just a few older brands on the store shelves and some clothes (much of which is identical to what people wear today in any case).

Not entirely sure how anyone would rate this 10/10 when it literally defines the term 'distinctly average'. Is it worth watching? Just about. My attention drifted numerous times but I did make it to the end.

Pretty disjointed and needed some polishing

[BearRush-1989 · 5/10 · 16 June 2022]

Turbo Cola is an indie movie that clearly shows homage to older indie and coming of age movies. However, it also has interjections of a heist every so often through the movie. It's an awkward mash of genres that feels fairly thrown together at times. Had the movie stuck to one genre or the other, I feel that it could've been a lot better. Full spoilers ahead for the movie, so be warned.

About 75% of the movie feels like a Clerks-esque indie film about friends trying to find their way in life just after high school. Jimmy wants to move in with Austin, Austin wants to move to New York, Mary Jane is going to College in New York, and so on. Everyone's talking about the New Year's Eve party that's happening, but due to different reasons no one ever stays too long and keeps coming back to the Quality Mart. All the while, there's the looming threat of Y2K that could seemingly end the world as they know it.

The other 25% of the movie is a heist plot to steal money from the ATM in the Quality Mart that has very little bearing on the rest of the movie. This is where the main issues with the movie stem. The movie has a good flow through most of it with the character building between the cast, but every 20 or so minutes is a reminder of a heist that's happening that doesn't even pay off in the end.

There's also several questionable choices made for the movie, such as: Why can't we hear Mindy over the phone during the first phone call, but can hear her and Swearsky in the other two phone calls? Why is the money just jammed into the ATM instead of neat stacks? Why are planes flying so close to the gas station that it shakes the entire building like an earthquake? Why are there people visiting a small Midwest town to see the town's "wrench drop", but don't know the town's mascot, which is also a wrench? Why does the cop come in to get coffee, leave, then come back just to ask for his change? Why is the "employee's only" bathroom absolutely covered in what appears to be feces? Why does Eric become completely lucid and all-knowing once he's been shot instead of giving that moment to one of the main cast? Most of these can be answered with "because exposition" but that's not really a good answer.

Overall, the acting is good for an indie film, the cinematography is great, but the script feels like it was written by two different people, which is detrimental to the movie overall.

an A4 built up...

[ops-52535 · 5/10 · 14 June 2022]

Teenage Y2K heistcomedy where everything look so neat, but where the trouble piles up like a tsunami in the backyard. Its meant to be a comedy, and if youre adaptabel to slang and signals that where used back then youll might find some amusement...

its not the actors that ruins this film, the writers and directors have just lost any sense of eddible laugh out load comedy fantasy, so no slap stick my friends just a lot of '' i saw you'' and ''we see you'' kinda stuff while monsterheisting the minimarts atm-machine for all its worth on the last day on earth mentality being the crankshaft than rolls the steamroller steady going...

no , the actors do a good job, its just nothing new on the plaza, the gas station idea has been used at least 4 times that i can recall the past 4 years, so just a small recommend from the grumpy old man.

Clerks

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 14 October 2022]

It's 1999 on the eve of Y2K. Austin is a convenience store clerk in Mechanicsville, Michigan. He has come up with a scheme to rob the ATM with his slacker friend Swearsky. He plans to move to NYC to live with Mary Jane who has a scholarship to NYU. Her brother Jimmy is his volatile drug-selling friend.

It's an indie and a Clerks wannabe. The big difference is that I don't like these characters. At most, I find some of them tolerable. I get the Swearsky slacker character. I really don't like the Jimmy character. He's like the creepy bug that is crawling on your skin. I can't get away from him fast enough. I thought maybe the movie would make him have a crush on Austin. At least, that would have been interesting. The lead Austin also has the annoying problem. He's a troubled character. There is a way to make him more appealing, but there is something about the actor's voice that bugs me. Too many of these characters are bugging me which holds back the comedy.

Yeah, It's Like Clerks, Only It's Not

[rebeltaz-18705 · 4/10 · 25 July 2022]

So I like Clerks and from everything I read, this was supposed to be in that same vein. In that it takes place entirely in a QuickMart, ok... yeah. But that is where the similarities end. The whole movie is slow paced and in the end, goes nowhere. I think I'd have been more entertained watching paint dry on grass as it grows. The characters are one-dimensional - we never get to really know them at all. The entire plot is ludicrous.

I think whoever wrote this must have been on some really good stuff! Too bad they don't include a bit of that with each purchase... maybe then the movie would have been more entertaining.

Why the low rating?

[lordmoustach · 7/10 · 3 August 2022]

As of 3rd August 2022 Turbo Cola has a rating of 4.7. That's crazy!! The movie is great, the cast of unknown actors are brilliant, the story was entertaining and the dialogue kept me engaged. I honestly can't understand the negative reviews and low ratings. I can see it becoming a future cult classic.

A legitimately entirely amateur indie low budget film that is surprisingly very entertaining.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 8/10 · 26 June 2022]

When I say "legitimately entirely amateur", all cast and crew are all either newbs, and/or have very minimal experience in their fields, and that makes a good result great, and more appreciated.

This is co-writer, producer, editor and director Luke Covert's first attempt at filmmaking, and wow, did he not disappoint. Then add that this low budget indie gem was practically perfectly directed and performed by cast I've never heard of, and the cinematography was spot on, with a bonus awesome soundtrack.

The entire story was clever, well thought out and presented. If you're a millennial, or a parent of them, you'll relate to everything that happens in this film. The dreams, the plans, the maturity, the good or failing friendships, the sibling rivalry, the loyalty and let-downs - it's all in this film, and presented on a silver platter.

Was it perfect? Nope, but darn close. The 94 min runtime was used effectively and the pacing was decent. The story was cohesive and flowed smoothly, although a few tweaks were needed here and there.

Covert is certainly a filmmaker to keep an eye out on, because this little amateur production of his was stronger and more entertaining than some recent films from seasoned filmmakers I've seen lately.

Mad props to the entire cast and crew. Intentional or not, it seems there's an opening for a Turbo Cola 2, so I hope that happens. A well deserved 7.5 rounded up to an 8/10 from me.

A really enjoyable film!!

[DawnFields · 9/10 · 23 June 2022]

I liked this film a lot. As a filmmaker, myself, I can appreciate what was accomplished here. I found the story and setting charming as 1999 was a memorable time for me, even though I was well out of high school by then. I enjoyed the characters, the director's style and thought it was well produced and well shot. Austin and Swearsky were my favorite, but the rest of the cast did a great job as well. A fun watch!

Feel Good Escape movie of 2022!

[dblum-22338 · 10/10 · 14 June 2022]

This is what i needed in 2022! Just a movie you can enjoy and forget about world problems for a couple of hours. From start to finish you should watch this film just to feel great. I was bummed out earlier and what a great pick me up,rockin' film. I so much needed this! What a ride!

Great entertainment that's not over the top

[dan-villeneuve · 10/10 · 15 June 2022]

This movie is fresh, and simply put, a lot of fun on an awesome level! You'll quickly find the cast to be believable, with their quick-witted bantering expertly edited, making each scene fully enjoyable. The pace is just right, and you'll be guessing what's happening next. The soundtrack is also great to support the story and has the right inflection points. Overall, it's a respectful, gentle lean to a Kevin Smith approach to filmmaking while never sacrificing its own individuality that makes Turbo Cola a refreshing and entertaining movie to watch. It's not often I can say I get fully immersed in a movie, and I certainly did with this one. If you're looking for a great movie to enjoy, please consider this one!

Something fresh and fun for Movie Night!

[donandang · 10/10 · 15 June 2022]

Turbo Cola is an enchanting and fun throwback to Dec 31,1999 that is laugh out loud funny, engaging, suspenseful, nostalgic, gritty and a great expression of the culture at the turn of the century. We have needed something fresh after covid, franchises, and sequels, and director Luke Covert delivered it on a silver platter. Great job to all!

One of the must sees of the year!!!!

[rickkruger-69019 · 10/10 · 26 June 2022]

Honestly, I was so impressed after watching the film. The lighting and acting especially gels the entire film as a cohesive unit! Well done to the great performances by the cast! And hats off to the production members 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟!!!!!

Great Movie

[stxzqnpj · 10/10 · 1 July 2022]

Turbo cola was a very entertaining movie. The storyline was very much like Clerks which I enjoyed when it came out. This is definitely a great start for all of the actors producers and directors. This was an excellent movie and I highly recommend anyone watch it.

Fun indie film, taking me on a ride to the past!

[magiaal-87135 · 10/10 · 5 July 2022]

I love indie films, especially when relating to the 90s era. Turbo Cola offers a great plot with excellent likable characters. It reminded me of a Clerks type movie with a mini Oceans Eleven feel. It takes you on a journey that lets you create your own ending. I would definitely watch it again. This film took me back in time when I would go out and rent a film from Blockbuster, go home, pop some popcorn in the microwave, kick back, and press play. I will be waiting for a second part.

Color me impressed

[trentruby · 8/10 · 1 July 2022]

First I do have a bit of bias for liking this movie cause some good friends were involved in the sound track. That being said I will give my best uncolored review.

This film was very entertaining. The characters were fun and relateable. I will say it was a bit predictable but that didn't really take away from it I think. It felt genuine and I think the lead performance was especially good. The look of the movie was very well done they really captured the essence of a crusty gas station. Last thing I will say is that I loved the ending.

What Independent Filmaking Is All About

[tkiss-41334 · 8/10 · 8 July 2022]

A truly great job on all aspects of independent filmmaking. The cast did excellent, story was fantastic, but most impressive to me was the shot selection. Director Luke Covert and cinematographer Dennis Thomas showed impressive angles and shot ideas throughout the film. Also loved the "breaking bad" omage that ties opening with the climax!