There’s a special brand of absurdist crime comedy that the Coen Brothers perfected back in the nineties. It features an intriguing plot full of twists and a lot of dark humor. However, at its heart is a story about ordinary individuals in extraordinary circumstances. And that makes them very relatable. During the eighties, these movies were usually neo-noir thrillers with a funny twist. I’m talking about movies like Red Rock West and Kill Me Again. Most of them also feature a case of either mistaken identity or character with nothing to lose stumbling into hot situations. Well, the movie we’re going to be talking about today tried to do all of the above.
LaRoy, Texas is a crime comedy in the vein of Fargo held up by brilliant performances, excellent cinematography, and a darkly comical atmosphere. The small-town setting along with a razor-sharp script made this a bit messy movie an entertaining watch. We will be following Ray, a man who lived his entire life in the shadow of his brother. His marriage is also not going great as his ambitious wife is looking for her next big break. Understandably, Ray is not feeling good about all of this and he’s even contemplating killing himself. However, a chance encounter will change not just his life but also the lives of everyone around him.
If there’s something I love, it’s when a movie starts with a casual conversation that soon turns into something else. Not only is this a great way to set up the mood of the movie but it also tells you that you’re in for a treat. With this being said, you should know that LaRoy, Texas is a slow-burning neo-noir crime comedy that requires your patience. There won’t be much action here although you can count on a couple of shootouts. And I don’t need to tell you to expect a lot of twists and a story oozing with mystery. Just be ready for that a bit longer runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes and you should be fine. The cast is going to help you with that.
In the lead role, we have underappreciated John Magaro (Past Lives). His performance here was just as good as Steve Zahn’s who was the comedic relief. Every scene he’s in was just that much better. However, we shouldn’t forget about Dylan Baker who plays one tough hitman you wouldn’t want to run into. Finally, I should also mention Megan Stevenson who plays the wife, Stacy-Lynn. This entire fucking movie is worth watching just because of one thing she said towards the end. Her husband Ray, played by John Magaro, asks her why did she married him and her answer is brutally honest.
And I’m not going to tell you what it is. You’ll have to watch the movie to find out. On the other hand, it sometimes tries too hard to be either edgy or funny. Sometimes it manages to pull it off but most of the time these attempts are barely acceptable. Luckily, the overall atmosphere and the desire to see the story to its logical conclusion will help you finish LaRoy, Texas. And just to be perfectly clear, there is no LaRoy, Texas, it’s a made-up place. There’s Leroy, Texas and it’s only logical to use a made-up small town instead of a real one. Although, now that I think about it, they could’ve used a real place.
Speaking of real things, I want to finish this movie recommendation by saying that all of the characters in LaRoy, Texas felt authentic. I could relate the most to the main one, Roy, but I also know a couple of Stacy-Lynns and Skips. Luckily, I didn’t get the chance to meet guys like Harry in real life. Finally, if you’re looking for something similarly refreshing, I suggest you check out our Subversive Rabbit selection of Small Town Crime Movies worth watching. Not among them is Happy, Texas, also starring Steve Zahn. Much more positive than the movie we’ve talked about today, it’s a perfect choice for those nights when you don’t want to use too much brain power.
Director: Shane Atkinson
Writer: Shane Atkinson
Cast: John Magaro, Megan Stevenson, Steve Zahn, Dylan Baker, Matthew Del Negro, Galadriel Stineman
Fun Facts: This is Shane Atkinson directorial debut. He also wrote the script for the movie that was mostly shot in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20102596/
