Beerfest (2006)

"Funnier than you might imagine.  Ken Fox, TV Guide
"...Broken Lizard keeps it interesting by refusing to color inside the lines...  M. E. Russell, Portland Oregonian
"...big laughs...  Rob Thomas, Capital Times
"Blissfully over the top in every way.  Pete Hammond, Maxim
"Random silliness rules the day, but the gags are frequently surprising.  Scott Tobias, The Onion A.V. Club

Editor's Note With a title that insures against accusations of false advertising, BEERFEST is a raunchy and genial amalgamation of ANIMAL HOUSE, STRANGE BREW, FIGHT CLUB, and every clichéd sports film ever made. Written by and starring comedy troupe Broken Lizard (SUPER TROOPERS, CLUB DREAD) and directed by Lizard member Jay Chandrasekhar, the film is unapologetically sophomoric, never missing a chance for a belch, flatulence, bared breasts, or Cloris Leachman doing lewd things with a sausage. After the death of their bar-owning German grandfather (Donald Sutherland), Jan (Paul Soter) and Todd (Erik Stolhanske) Wolfhouse must travel to Munich to scatter his ashes. Fortunately for them, it's Oktoberfest, but the brothers aren't there very long before they embarrass themselves at a public celebration and find themselves at Beerfest, an annual international underground beer-guzzling competition. When they compete, they are disgraced by their German cousins, the Von Wolfhausens--headed by father Jurgen Prochnow--who claim that the Wolfhouses' late grandfather stole a beer recipe from them many years before. Jan and Todd return home to train for next year's competition, incorporating into their team a few old college pals--male prostitute Barry (Chandrasekhar), burly Landfill (Kevin Heffernan), and science nerd Fink (Steve Lemme). For BEERFEST to work, it's imperative that viewers find humor in exaggerated German accents. Cloris Leachman appears to be enjoying throwing all comic caution to the wind, and Prochnow gets to lampoon DAS BOOT in a funny sequence. Big, sloppy, and ridiculous--compliments in this case--all apply to the third Broken Lizard feature, which is sure to burp its way into every fraternity house film library until the world ends.

	Erik Stolhanske
	Jay Chandrasekhar
	Kevin Heffernan
	Paul Soter
	Steve Lemme
	Cloris Leachman
	Mo'Nique
	Will Forte
	Bill Gerber, et. al. - Producer
	Frank G. DeMarco - Cinematographer
	Jay Chandrasekhar - Director
	Kevin Heffernan, et. al. - Writer
	Lee Haxall - Editor
	Nathan Barr - Original Music By
	Bill Gerber - Producer
	David Baca - Art Director
	Jay Chandrasekhar, et. al. - Writer
	Scott Mednick - Executive Producer

Entertainment Weekly
"It's R-rated puerility for actual immature grown-ups....Bet on this: These guys did their own stunts." -- Grade: B 09/01/2006 p.54

Variety 7 of 10
There's roughly a pint of quality comedy rattling around in this keg-sized movie, which fills out the rest of its time by being so cheerfully stupid that those with brains muddled by a few beers or worse (almost a prerequisite) probably won't notice all the foam. The Broken Lizard comedy troupe enjoyed considerable DVD success with "Super Troopers," and its latest should find similar vitality in that format after this late-summer theatrical pit stop. Indeed, some scenes and the closing outtakes already feel like little more than a tease for the unrated DVD extras sure to come. - Brian Lowry

Reel.com 7 of 10
Beerfest begins with a disclaimer warning the viewer not to try this it at home, because you'll die. They have a point. To ape the behavior of the characters, or even build a drinking game behind this maddeningly uneven, occasionally uproarious, suds-soaked comedy aimed straight at the frat boy set, is to invite mortal peril, or at least a ridiculously bad hangover...With its high alcohol content, sexcapades, crude humor, and penchant for topless women, Beerfest is an acquired taste that's a little bit like your basic American lager. That is, the comedy is the equivalent of empty calories. But, while there are comic brews with better taste, it does go down easily enough. - Pam Grady

FilmCritic.com 7 of 10
It's not nearly as funny as Super Troopers, but it's not nearly as atrocious as the laugh-empty Club Dread. In this dead season of laughs, that makes Beerfest almost a rousing success...Outside of the five men's struggle to make America a boozy champion, the movie's attempts to get laughs fail. Cloris Leachman plays her 800th crazy lady; the German team is portrayed as a pack of braying efficiency experts; and peeing jokes peaked with Leslie Nielsen's marathon whiz in The Naked Gun. Ultimately, Beerfest provides us with enough laughs to keep us entertained. Consider that an endorsement or a sign to wait for Judd Apatow's next movie. - Pete Croatto