There is such a thing as a good prison comedy, but whilst Lets go to Prison
is an easily endurable experience and has some good comedic
performances, it isn’t it. In fact, I think it was much funnier when it
was released in the early 80s and starred Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor
and Sidney Poiter.
For all intents and purposes, Bob Odenkirk’s so-so comedy is an unabashed rip-off of Stir Crazy
– complete with the flamboyantly gay prison butt-plugger. And like
Sidney Poiter’s scene-stealing performance in that genuinely funny
film, Chi McBride rules every frame he appears in here too. He, if
anyone, comes close to actually evoking a laugh from the audience.
In
a nutshell: Upon his exit from prison, trouble-making parole John
(Shepard) decides he’s going to make hell for the Judge that’s
responsible for his in-and-out life behind bars. Unfortunately for him,
the Judge is dead. Solution? Take his revenge on the Judge’s son,
Nelson (Arnett), a wealthy conceited businessman, instead. Within the
day, John has Nelson thrown into prison – to get ‘the full treatment’.
And within the same day, John has himself readmitted to prison, so he
can be his cellmate.
Yeah, it’s an OK stencil. And I never said
the film was terrible. It isn’t, it’s just a little flat. It could be
partly due to the fact that Will Arnett (Arrested Development) and Dax Shepard (Punk’d)
aren’t ready to be leading men yet. They’re always good in support
roles, accompanied by a much more talented more-known star, but here…
they’re just not exactly transfixing or captivating. In a few years
time, they might’ve been able to make this more of a movie… having
honed their comedy skills a little more… but at present, they’re a
little unripe in their roles.
Let’s go to Prison
is an easy-watch… and you will get through it all rather effortlessly…
but it needed to be put back in the oven for a couple more hours to
brown… because it just passes the ‘fit for consumption’ mark.
EXTRASExtras include an alternate ending (it “might” be funnier than the one
that’s currently in the film – but hard to tell), some deleted and
extended sequences (which I fast-forwarded through) and some trailers.
There’s also the option to view the ‘unrated’ version of the film or
the ‘theatrical version’, I chose the former, but can’t for the life of
me see why the film would be considering a near-taboo ‘unrated’ version… Conclusion:
Movie 60% Extras: 60% 
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