Small time hood John (Anton Tennet) is having a shit run of luck; his (crime) boss Shelton (Jonny Brugh) treats him like turd, and he has to vacate the garage he lives in…and mostly everyone he encounters thinks he’s a bit of a nutless wonder. Aiming to prove them wrong, John and his dim pal Gaz (Arlo Gibson) set out to swipe a bundle o’ cash from a gang of Chinese hoods muscling into Shelton’s territory from the antique shop they use as a drop off. In the process he steals a magic time travelling bracelet (as one does), and when he’s ratted out for stealing from the boss he begins making small leaps through time…and assembling a criminal gang of his own…comprised strictly of time displaced versions of himself (who take on the eponymous moniker Mega Time Squad).
Speaking of time, will John be able to foster a romance with Shelton’s sister (Hetty Gaskell-Hahn), avoid the Chinese time demon (that is very likely) on his tail, and keep all the versions of himself alive?
To kick things off; I challenge anyone to resist a film that combines time travel, half-assed criminal activity, Chinese legends, a smattering of violence, and off-the-charts dimwittery. Every character is completely ridiculous (and immensely likable…even the bad guys), and the performances of Tennet and Brugh are simply comedy gold.
Special mention should also be given to how this film runs it’s time travel game; things get pretty off the rails, but the filmmakers make it seem logical and believable…and that is no small feat given the surreal nature of the world the film takes place in! And while we are on the subject; this film runs an economical eighty odd minutes, which keeps the pace brisk and the hilarity flying with nary a dull section in sight!
Mega Time Squad is one of the most hilarious flicks I’ve had the absolute pleasure of puttin’ my putrid peepers on. I had more full on laughing fits from watching John’s misadventures than I’ve had in a damn sight, and Writer/Director Tim van Dammen gets my full adoration for conjuring up such a lunatic masterpiece!
