The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard: It’s sold us

There’s a simple joy in going to see a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It is that propensity for its creators to think a film is better than it is that made so many of this summer’s anticipated hits such terrible disappointments. Even from the TV ads, claiming this film is starring Jeremy Piven, Ed Helms and all those other people from your favorite funny movies whose names you can’t remember (aka Ving Rhames, Kathryn Hahn, Tony Hale, Ken Jeong, Craig Robinson and David Koechner, among many others) it is clear “The Goods” knows exactly what will make it a success: One liners from all the people whose one liners in other films stole the show.

“The Goods” isn’t good per se, but it is funny as hell. The plot is ludicrous: four mercenary car salesmen are called in to save a dying car lot from a land-hungry boy band lead singer, but it is the range of secondary actors stuffed into the film that makes it so great. For people who have made their career off one or two funny lines and scenes (like Hahn in “Step Brothers” and Jeong in “The Hangover”), putting them into the foreground only emphasizes their humor. None of the characters make sense, but “The Goods” isn’t about making sense. It’s about making you laugh, which it succeeds in with flying colors.

Unfortunately, and probably due to the fact “The Goods” doesn’t have much star power to speak of, Will Ferrel’s cameo was already revealed in TV ads to try to get people more interested in seeing the film. But, while Will Ferrel in cameo roles always is a show-stealer, some of the best parts of the film came from its defying stereotypes. It is the rogue alpha male of the story who gets turned into a one night stand, the father-son subplot never turns out the way you expect, and ‘Querque is nothing like what you expect it to be. Somehow, in a genre where everything has been done and overdone, “The Goods” still manages to be surprising and unique.

Without a doubt, “The Hangover” is still the best comedy of the summer, but “The Goods” shouldn’t be written off as fast as its A-lister stars can be named. If you leave your brain at home, “The Goods” will make you laugh, and laugh hard. You’ll just have no idea what is going on.