PETE SMALLS IS DEAD – The Review

K.C. (Peter Dinklage) has hit rock bottom. His dog has been kidnapped by a loan shark, and now his friend Pete Smalls (Tim Roth) is dead. With no other options, he meets up with his friend Jack (Mark Boone Junior) in LA to get the money to save his dog and say goodbye to his friend Pete.

PETE SMALLS IS DEAD is a roller coaster ride through the seedy side of Hollywood. Although it has some rather funny parts, and a stellar cast, it feels like something is missing. Peter Dinklage is fantastic to watch. His acting is always spot on, and I really admire his subtle delivery. His character was once a film writer with big dreams, but hurt and heartache led him to flee LA, leaving his dreams behind. I admired his character for caring about his dog so much. His dog was old, and had cataracts, but that didn’t stop him from fighting to get him back. It was a smart way to tug at the heartstrings of animal lovers.

The cast was wonderful, with some amazing  actors that include Mark Boone Jr., Richie Coaster, Rosie Perez, Michael Lerner, Steve Buschemi, Tim Roth and Seymour Cassell. They each added a colorful augmentation to the building story. The script concept, a man down on his luck, desperately trying to get the money to get his dog back while weaving through the City of Angels, is great! That, however, is not enough…

My problem lies in the script, and the pacing of this film. Parts of amusement and wit were followed by dragging, lackluster lulls. I found myself either rather interested or completely bored while watching this film. With smarmy Hollywood Producers, the Armenian mob, and a lovely French love interest, it’s hard to believe that parts could be dull. Still, every time a moment would pick me up and pull me back in, that moment would pass and I was sucked back into my uninterested state. I honestly felt disappointed at the end. The cast and story were there… They had some great shots… but they just lost control and let the film fizzle.

OVERALL RATING: 2.5 out of 5 stars