JEANNE’S REVIEW

Screenwriter Jimmy Warden, known for penning the wildly successful COCAINE BEAR (2023), makes his directorial debut with the dark comedy BORDERLINE. Set in 1990s Los Angeles, Warden’s screenplay depicts the dangers of stalkers, especially those who are severely challenged mentally.

Paul Duerson (Ray Nicholson) is obsessed with pop superstar Sofia (Samara Weaving) and he has definite plans of marrying her. When he shows up at her sprawling LA home, Paul is rebuffed by her loyal bodyguard, Bell (Eric Dane). But a scuffle sends Paul to an asylum and Bell to the hospital.

Fast forward six months and Paul manages to escape, along with another even crazier patient named Penny (Alba Baptista), and together they head straight for Sofia’s. Sofia has just had an argument with her current boyfriend, Rhodes (Jimmie Fails), a professional basketball player, whom she’s locked out of the house.

Bell is on his way back to work when he learns Paul has escaped. But when Paul and Penny arrive, Sofia is alone in her home with no one to help her and Paul is determined to get married as soon as possible.

Obviously unstable stalkers are no laughing matter, but as Warden puts Paul through his paces there is more than enough humor --- and gore --- to go around. Nicholson plays Paul with complete unpredictability. When he shares that recognizable familial grin (his father is Jack), it’s always uncertain what will happen next. And Ray seems to relish all the chaos he’s creating in portraying --- shall we say --- such a colorful character.

Weaving, who was just off-the-charts spectacular in READY OR NOT (2019), once again proves she’s more than capable of defending herself in any role. Sofia may be a singing sensation, but she’s also very adept at staying alive while inflicting deserved pain on others. Weaving is such a hoot and together with Nicholson they make quite a pair.

The ensemble cast is terrific, especially Fails and Baptista. Watching Rhodes trying to make sense of his predicament with Paul is downright hilarious. Baptista plays the completely unhinged Penny with great abandon. Just when you think she’s showing a tiny bit of normalcy --- like her show-stopping duet with Weaving --- whoa, insanity rears its ugly head.

I absolutely love dark comedies. BORDERLINE has some very juicy scenes replete with more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. The screenplay is a tad uneven at times, but the fabulous soundtrack including Madonna’s hit “Borderline”, helps smooth out the rough edges. Jimmy Warden and his wife, Samara Weaving, should be pleased.

Opinion: Wait for VOD

DAVID’S REVIEW

BORDERLINE gives a whole new meaning to craziness. Writer/director Jimmy Warden, in his directorial debut, was also responsible for the box office smash COCAINE BEAR (2023).

This film features a combination of grisly violence and dark humor, bordering on absurd. Thanks to Warden's script and a capable ensemble cast, BORDERLINE works. The two leads are Samara Weaving --- Warden’s real-life wife --- and Ray Nicholson (yes, he is Jack’s son).

Sometimes madness in a script is so over-the-top that it ends up being ludicrous. Truthfully, I wasn’t that fond of this story until things gelled toward the end. The sustained violence makes it difficult to appreciate the humor, but somehow it all comes together.

Nicholson as Paul Duerson reminds us of his famous dad, especially with his broad smile and acting antics, much like his father’s performance in THE SHINING. He is quite effective as the crazed individual who believes a beautiful pop star, Sofia, is going to marry him. Weaving plays Sofia and she is adorably funny. Her facial reactions to Paul’s advances are priceless.

The rest of the cast contributes, as well, including Eric Dane as Sofia’s bodyguard, Bell, who manages to survive two murder attempts on his life. Jimmie Fails is hilarious as Sofia’s pro basketball-player boyfriend, Rhodes. Patrick Cox plays JH, a monster of a man who is a villain, of sorts, and Yasmeen Kelders is Abby, Bell’s daughter who renders a convincing performance that turns out to be hysterical. But perhaps the one actor who almost steals the show is Alba Baptista as Penny. She knew Paul in the asylum --- and she is a riot.

The film’s music plays a big part --- it is creepy and whimsical at various times to set the appropriate tone. And of course, Madonna’s hit “Borderline” is the perfect complement. As for Warden’s script, it wavers between fantasy and actuality --- and will keep you guessing.

Opinion: Mild See It Now!