Synopsis
The frustrating thing in watching Gas is just how familiar it is to The Cookout, Barbershop, Beautyshop, and other films that involve groups of African-American men getting together in the neighborhood and having fun, and getting the most successful family member in touch with their roots. What’s next, Sunday Church? Or Night at Silver Diner?
There are even a couple of parallels to The Cookout in this film. While Damien in this film is played by “Flex” …lexander, Todd is played by “Storm P”. Two actors I’ve never heard of with strange nicknames. Maybe I should change mine to “Chubby K”, and then I’d get a starring vehicle. Regardless, Damien comes home to his father’s funeral and has to run the gas station his father owned. Because he hasn’t been in the neighborhood for awhile, he finds himself at odds running the station with his brother Mookie (Khalil Kain, Baadassss!). He also deals with some of the characters in his neighborhood and the station, including Karl (Tyson Beckford, Biker Boyz) and the elder statesmen of the station Will (Art Evans, CB4). Among the other thespians in the film are folks named Sticky Fingaz and J.B. Groove. Sometimes, the jokes write themselves.
I suppose I would have enjoyed it more if it wasn’t a virtual clone of something I’ve seen recently, and came out a week after it. In terms of basic story, it is an agreeable one and worth revisiting in more efficient circumstances.
Audio
The only soundtrack on the DVD is a 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround track that isn’t too shabby, and it’s very active for most of the film, and there’s also some LFE to be had on the smallest of subwoofers.
Video
A flipper disc from Fox, containing separate 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and fullscreen versions on either side of the disc. The widescreen version looks a bit dull and lackluster, but the black levels are pretty solid.
Special Features
No extras to speak of, which is surprising and disappointing.
Closing Thoughts
If you have seen similar films of the genre, there’s nothing that you are missing here, otherwise, it’s worth renting if for the curious.
