Free Enterprise

Free Enterprise opens with a satiric bite as a film producer named Mark (Eric McCormack) pitches his latest script, billed as "a serious attempt to meld the sensibilities of Manhunter, Silence of the Lambs, and Se7en with generation X angst, in order to parlay '70s nostalgia." The film is titled Brady Killer, which, as he points out, explains why the killer only stalks women named Marcia, Jan, or Cindy. Free Enterprise chronicles the sad lifestyles of Mark, currently riddled with pre-30th birthday angst, and his best bud Robert (Rafer Weigel), both of whom are imprisoned in bodies aging far faster than their mindsets. Huge popular culture and sci-fi junkies--everything from Planet of the Apes to Aliens, with a heavy emphasis on Star Trek--the two are truly baffled as to why they can't seem to find like-minded women. When a chance meeting brings them face to face with their biggest hero, William Shatner--who turns out equally obsessed with his planned musical version of "Julius Caesar"--the ex-Captain Kirk helps the two realize the error of their less-than-adult ways. Granted, Free Enterprise has got a slew of problems: the thread-bare plot, riddled with loose ends, is a mere picture nail on which first-time writer-director Robert Meyer Burnett hangs the film's one-liners; the characters too often deliver monologues instead of dialogue; and the pop culture references are made ad nauseam. It also has lots of charm and plenty of laughs; a breakout--yes, I said breakout--self-deprecating comic turn by Shatner (whose hilarious hip-hop finale, "Tears for Caesar," is worth the price of admission alone); and some very witty repartee. Overall, recommended. (S. C. Sickles)[DVD Review—Mar. 7, 2006—Anchor Bay, 2 discs, 121 min., not rated, $19.98—Making its second appearance on DVD, 1999's Free Enterprise (Extended Edition) sports a fine transfer with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. DVD extras on this extended cut Divimax version include two audio commentaries (one with co-writer producer Mark A. Altman and writer-director Robert Meyer Burnett; the other with Burnett and co-stars William Shatner, Eric McCormack, and Rafer Weigel), a 70-minute “Where No Fan Has Gone Before” making-of documentary, 12 deleted scenes (27 min.), the “Café Fantastique” unaired television pilot (25 min.), eight minutes of cast screen tests, the music video “No Tears for Caesar,” DVD-ROM features including two drafts and an excerpt from the screenplay in PDF format, a 20-page collectable booklet, and trailers. Bottom line: an excellent extras package for a winning cult film.]