THE RECORD NEWS EMC REVIEW

Local Production Presents Entertaining Spy Spoof

The Record News EMC, Friday March 15, 2002

MY TAKE By Mark Haskins

MOVIE: Idiot and the Scorpion

STARRING: Amiel Beausoleil, Angela Parent, Jason McMaster,

and Ken Godmere

DIRECTOR: Travis Gordon

Independent Film

It's not often I get invited to a movie premiere, let alone one held by a local

one held by a local company. So when I was given the opportunity to see The Idiot

and the Scorpion, a film by W.T.S. Entertainment, I couldn't wait to go.

You may not have heard of Where's the Soup (W.T.S.) Entertainment, but

this group of actors and writers has performed at the Ottawa Fringe Festival, won

the Carleton Improv Bowl, and has made two feature films. Travis Gordon, Jason

McMaster, Amiel Beausoleil, and Penu Chalykoff, are the core members who started

the group while in the Algonquin Theatre Arts program.

The Idiot and the Scorpion, an action/comedy/spy spoof is their second

film (the first is a horror/comedy called Zarko), and as Canadian spy films this is

probably the most accurate. The spy agency is located in the basement of a church,

the top secret agent wears a bad tuxedo and drives a Chevette, and the best

technological gadget the spy lab can come up with is an orange you throw at your

assailant to distract him. Pretty much what I would expect from the real Canadian

Spy agency.

Max Damage (Amiel Beausoleil) is Canada's top agent. His current mission

is to keep beautiful oil heiress, Trixie Pearson (Angela Parent), from being killed by

the evil agents of Scorpion Force, led by The Sting (Jason McMaster).

Max is a bumbling buffoon who survives by dumb luck, a little help from

Trixie, and a well-placed kick to the groin. Although with enemies like Scorpion

Force, who resemble rejects from a WWF tryout, it soon becomes obvious how Max

became our top agent.

With independent films you never know what you'll get, but it will never be

what you expect. Idiot and the Scorpion is no exception. It's a low budget farce with

an ensemble cast, that even includes an appearance by radio DJ Stuntman Stu.

There's a lot of energy in this film, and you can tell the people involved

really enjoy what they do. There are some really funny moments, and moments when

everything comes together perfectly.

The acting shows promise. There are some funny performances from

Beausoleil, Parent, and especially Ken Godmere who plays Sean Damage, Max's

father.

But I also thought the film was about a half hour too long. A comedy like

this needs to move quickly and keep a tight focus, but The Idiot and the Scorpion

wanders around aimlessly and drags on.

Some gags get way overdone, others should've been dropped from the film

entirely, and the gratuitous violence was unnecessary.

Still, I think there's a lot of potential, talent and good ideas at W.T.S., and I

look forward to their next project. If you want to check out W.T.S. Entertainment,

their website address is www.wtsentertainment.com

Mark Haskins' column is a regular feature of the EMC.