Postal (2007)
100 min · Comedy, Action
Uwe Boll's deliberately offensive adaptation of a controversial video game so angered critics that he challenged them to boxing matches.
The Bottom Reel's take
Some films swing for the fences, aiming for profound statements or dazzling technical achievements. Then there's 2007's *Postal*, which, with its genre mashup of comedy and action, seems to have been swinging for... well, *something* offensive, something loud, and something utterly unconcerned with the niceties of critical reception. Clocking in at 100 minutes, this particular cinematic endeavor, based on a controversial video game, garnered an infamous 8/100 from critics, a score that director Uwe Boll met with an offer to box his detractors. That kind of chutzpah alone hints at the gap between the film's audacious ambition and its rather... unique outcome.
The texture of *Postal*'s badness isn't born from accident, but from a seemingly deliberate, almost aggressive embrace of absurdity. It’s an exercise in pushing buttons, where every gag aims for maximum shock value, and every plot development seems designed to further devolve into chaos. The film's low critical score doesn't necessarily mean it fails at what it sets out to do; rather, it suggests it succeeded in alienating precisely the kind of sensibilities it was designed to provoke. We're talking about a movie that doesn't just flirt with bad taste, it proposes marriage and settles down with it.
Yet, despite its infamy and the collective critical gasp, *Postal* finds its audience among those who appreciate cinema's wilder, unhinged side. The significant leap from an 8% critic score to a 42% audience score speaks volumes. This isn't a film asking to be understood or admired for its craft; it's a spectacle of cinematic anarchy that, for some, is undeniably fun. It’s the kind of movie that makes you question what you’re watching, only to then marvel at the sheer audacity of it all. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, truly going for broke, even if it means breaking every conventional rule, can result in something undeniably memorable.
So, is *Postal* "good" in any traditional sense? Probably not, and it wouldn’t want to be. But is it unforgettably fun? Absolutely. If you’re in the mood for a cinematic experience that defies expectations, embraces the outrageous, and features a director who literally challenged his critics to a fight, then gather your most bewildered friends, queue up *Postal*, and prepare for a riotous, bewildering, and strangely exhilarating Friday night. Just make sure to have plenty of popcorn – you’ll need something to chew on while you process what you’re seeing.
Synopsis
An unemployed loser joins his cult-leader uncle in a scheme to steal a fortune in German theme-park merchandise that descends into mass violence.