“Adventures of Power”

Reviewed 14 September 2009 by Ted Faraone

Four stars out of five; $10 ticket on a scale of $0 to $12.

OUTRAGEOUS FEEL-GOOD FLICK

“Adventures of Power,” the first feature from writer-director-performer Ari Gold, is a feel-good flick.  This low budget effort (estimated at $3.5 million) is no “Gone with the Wind,” but as entertainment it functions very well indeed, thanks in large measure to Gold’s courage as a performer.  Gold is as funny and ridiculous as Brad Pitt as his comic best.  Inasmuch as he directed himself, he deserves even more credit.

“Adventures” centers on Power (Gold), an in-aptly named worker at a New Mexico copper mine who is hooked on air drumming, allegedly an underground sport.  Your critic had no idea that air drumming, pretending to play the drums while listening to a soundtrack, was any more a sport than air guitar, but he willingly suspends disbelief in order to review pic.  Power is an object of derision in his mining town, especially from his dad Harlan (Michael McKean) shop steward of the mine.  That he manages to get himself fired just before the union goes on strike is no mark in his favor.

An accident leads Power to an air drumming team in Newark, NJ, composed of reprobates like him, set to compete in the world air drumming championship across the Hudson in New York.  Mugged on arrival, he is adopted by a Chinese couple who run a fast food restaurant and falls in love with the deaf girl (played by the stunning Shoshanna Stern who really is deaf) who lives above the restaurant.  Action centers on the competition between Power and superstar drummer Dallas Houston (Adrian Grenier) who, it is later revealed, is the son of the owner of the copper mine, Dick Houston, an evil capitalist nailed by Richard Fancy -- no fan of air drumming either.

As the copper strike goes national, thugs appear at the New Mexico mine.  The rest is utterly predictable, but over-the-top performances save pic from being pure schmaltz with a Hollywood ending.  At 89 minutes pic moves quickly, exposition is developed organically, and direction and editing are both confident and economical.  Tech credits are more than adequate, especially in light of the budget.  Rated PG, you can take the kids.  They’ll love it.

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