Watch Little Paradise

Little Paradise is a refreshing take on the age-old buddy comedy genre. The movie follows the strange yet hilarious journey of a small-time criminal, Mickey, who returns to his hometown of Oceanside in California with his dim-witted accomplice, Jasper, and his sassy girlfriend, Lenny. The trio gets more than they bargained for when they run afoul of a dangerous and unpredictable drug lord, Gideon, who mistakes them for local drug dealers.

The film starts with a surprisingly humorous car chase sequence in which Mickey steals a car while being chased by the police. He, Jasper, and Lenny end up in a motel room, where Mickey reveals his plan to rob a wealthy family in his hometown, which he thinks will be an easy heist. Their plan is to pose as a family of renovators and stay in the family's guest house until they can pull off the heist.

Once they reach the house, they find out that the family is hosting a wedding in the garden and the guest house is already occupied by a young couple, Will and Sandy. Mickey is disappointed, but he decides to stick to his plan by pretending that he is one of the groom's old friends. As expected, things don't go smoothly, and Mickey's lies are quickly exposed. Will and Sandy soon figure out that Mickey is not who he claims to be, but they decide to give him a chance after Lenny manipulates them with her charm.

As the plot thickens, the film takes a dark turn with the introduction of Gideon, played by Ronnie Gene Blevins. Gideon quickly establishes himself as a cruel and unpredictable kingpin, who is not above using torture to get what he wants. He mistakes Mickey, Jasper, and Lenny for his rivals, which leads to a hilarious yet dangerous game of cat and mouse.

The film's strongest appeal lies in the chemistry between the lead actors. Flula Borg, who played Mickey, steals the show with his hilarious one-liners and quirky mannerisms. He is particularly brilliant in his scenes with Luke Edwards, who played Jasper, Mickey's loyal but slightly slower accomplice. Their banter is reminiscent of classic comedy duos like Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello.

Austin Highsmith Garces plays Lenny, Mickey's feisty girlfriend, who is more than capable of taking care of herself. Her sharp wit and sassiness are a perfect counterbalance to Mickey's zaniness. Together, the three actors create a comedic energy that drives the movie forward.

Director Natan Moss does a good job of balancing the film's humor with its darker themes. The movie has moments of genuine tension, particularly during the scenes with Gideon, but the director never loses sight of the film's comedic heart. The film's setting, the small coastal town of Oceanside, is beautifully shot, and the camera captures the laid-back vibe of the town perfectly.

Overall, Little Paradise is a fun and entertaining buddy comedy that is perfect for a lazy evening on the couch. While it's not a groundbreaking movie, it's definitely worth a watch for its hilarious performances and witty humor. The film's message, that sometimes the best things in life can be found in unexpected places, is heartwarming and relatable.

Little Paradise is a 2015 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6.