Turbo Cola

source: Turbo Cola

It's 1999 on the eve of Y2K. Austin is a convenience store clerk in Mechanicsville, Michigan. He has come up with a scheme to rob the ATM with his slacker friend Swearsky. He plans to move to NYC to live with Mary Jane who has a scholarship to NYU. Her brother Jimmy is his volatile drug-selling friend. It's an indie and a Clerks wannabe. The big difference is that I don't like these characters. At most, I find some of them tolerable. I get the Swearsky slacker character. I really don't like the Jimmy character. He's like the creepy bug that is crawling on your skin. I can't get away from him fast enough. I thought maybe the movie would make him have a crush on Austin. At least, that would have been interesting. The lead Austin also has the annoying problem. He's a troubled character. There is a way to make him more appealing, but there is something about the actor's voice that bugs me. Too many of these characters are bugging me which holds back the comedy.

A truly great job on all aspects of independent filmmaking. The cast did excellent, story was fantastic, but most impressive to me was the shot selection. Director Luke Covert and cinematographer Dennis Thomas showed impressive angles and shot ideas throughout the film. Also loved the "breaking bad" omage that ties opening with the climax!

So I like Clerks and from everything I read, this was supposed to be in that same vein. In that it takes place entirely in a QuickMart, ok... yeah. But that is where the similarities end. The whole movie is slow paced and in the end, goes nowhere. I think I'd have been more entertained watching paint dry on grass as it grows. The characters are one-dimensional - we never get to really know them at all. The entire plot is ludicrous. I think whoever wrote this must have been on some really good stuff! Too bad they don't include a bit of that with each purchase... maybe then the movie would have been more entertaining.

Turbo Cola is an indie movie that clearly shows homage to older indie and coming of age movies. However, it also has interjections of a heist every so often through the movie. It's an awkward mash of genres that feels fairly thrown together at times. Had the movie stuck to one genre or the other, I feel that it could've been a lot better. Full spoilers ahead for the movie, so be warned. About 75% of the movie feels like a Clerks-esque indie film about friends trying to find their way in life just after high school. Jimmy wants to move in with Austin, Austin wants to move to New York, Mary Jane is going to College in New York, and so on. Everyone's talking about the New Year's Eve party that's happening, but due to different reasons no one ever stays too long and keeps coming back to the Quality Mart. All the while, there's the looming threat of Y2K that could seemingly end the world as they know it. The other 25% of the movie is a heist plot to steal money from the ATM in the Quality Mart that has very little bearing on the rest of the movie. This is where the main issues with the movie stem. The movie has a good flow through most of it with the character building between the cast, but every 20 or so minutes is a reminder of a heist that's happening that doesn't even pay off in the end. There's also several questionable choices made for the movie, such as: Why can't we hear Mindy over the phone during the first phone call, but can hear her and Swearsky in the other two phone calls? Why is the money just jammed into the ATM instead of neat stacks? Why are planes flying so close to the gas station that it shakes the entire building like an earthquake? Why are there people visiting a small Midwest town to see the town's "wrench drop", but don't know the town's mascot, which is also a wrench? Why does the cop come in to get coffee, leave, then come back just to ask for his change? Why is the "employee's only" bathroom absolutely covered in what appears to be feces? Why does Eric become completely lucid and all-knowing once he's been shot instead of giving that moment to one of the main cast? Most of these can be answered with "because exposition" but that's not really a good answer. Overall, the acting is good for an indie film, the cinematography is great, but the script feels like it was written by two different people, which is detrimental to the movie overall.

I love indie films, especially when relating to the 90s era. Turbo Cola offers a great plot with excellent likable characters. It reminded me of a Clerks type movie with a mini Oceans Eleven feel. It takes you on a journey that lets you create your own ending. I would definitely watch it again. This film took me back in time when I would go out and rent a film from Blockbuster, go home, pop some popcorn in the microwave, kick back, and press play. I will be waiting for a second part.

As of 3rd August 2022 Turbo Cola has a rating of 4.7. That's crazy!! The movie is great, the cast of unknown actors are brilliant, the story was entertaining and the dialogue kept me engaged. I honestly can't understand the negative reviews and low ratings. I can see it becoming a future cult classic.

I liked this film a lot. As a filmmaker, myself, I can appreciate what was accomplished here. I found the story and setting charming as 1999 was a memorable time for me, even though I was well out of high school by then. I enjoyed the characters, the director's style and thought it was well produced and well shot. Austin and Swearsky were my favorite, but the rest of the cast did a great job as well. A fun watch!

Honestly, I was so impressed after watching the film. The lighting and acting especially gels the entire film as a cohesive unit! Well done to the great performances by the cast! And hats off to the production members 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟!!!!!

The title says it all. If you want to know what this movie is like, imagine Clerks (1994), but with way less interesting characters and even less humour. If you're unfamiliar with Clerks, so the reference isn't helpful, I'll describe this movie in one sentence. This is your average coming of age story with characters you'll instantly forget, much like the movie. An intriguing plot can keep an audience engaged in a story, but usually it's the characters that catch and keep our attention. These characters are shallow and cliche, with dialogue and performances that won't leave an impression. They don't promote an emotional investment so it's difficult to care about them or their plights. It's not a bad movie, it's just uninspired. With the exception of some slightly clever plot elements, the script is emotionally and mentally numbing. There's little to no humour in the script and the dialogue is shallow with no profundities to be found. There's no clever or intellectual insights provided beyond things change after high school is over. It's a period piece set in the year 1999, and it's an average coming of age story with nothing new to say. What it does say, it says with a blasé script with banal dialogue. If you're feeling nostalgic or just want to watch a great coming of age tale set around that era, you'll find dozens of movies made in the 90's and 00's with more entertainment value. Many will actually reward your investment in time and energy by watching them.